Rancagua is a city in the Central Valley of Chile, south of Santiago. It is the capital city of the O’Higgins Region. Tree-lined Heroes Square commemorates the Chileans who fought against the Spanish crown in the Battle of Rancagua during the Chilean War of Independence (1810–1826). It’s also home to the twin-towered Rancagua Cathedral. National hero General Bernardo O’Higgins directed troops during the battle from the nearby Merced Church. Housed in a colonial building, Rancagua Regional Museum explores the area’s past.