The great architectural wealth of Santiago, which has been amassed over the centuries, is now complemented by modern urban design by some of the best architects and planners in the world. Alvaro Siza, Giorgio Grassi, Alberto Noguerol, Jean Nouvel, Andres Perea, Arata Isozaki, Peter Eisenman, Norman Foster and Cesar Portela are just some of the names that have made the city a benchmark in the world of avant garde architecture.

The local council offers a guided tour that takes in 29 buildings of interest. The faculties of Information Sciences and Philology, the Vaqueria houses, the Galician Centre for Contemporary Art and the City of Culture are all fine example of this unexpected aspect of the ancient city.