CITY OVERVIEW

Córdoba is the capital of the central state of Argentina and is one of the oldest living settlements in South America. Located on the bank of the River Primero, Córdoba has preserved much of its colonial past and character. Its well preserved historic center and bordering neighborhoods are easily explored by foot. Cordobéses are more likely to walk you across town to make sure you get there, however, than to steer you wrong, and they are distinctly friendly and open, but there is definitely a unique twist to their collective sense of humor. Some of the most interesting colonial buildings include El Cabildo (the Town Hall) and the Casa del Obispo Mercadillo.

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One of the best streets in which to see colonial buildings is the Calle Obispo Trejos. Also worth seeing are the churches of the Compañia de Jésus, San Francisco and San Roque. Argentina’s first university, the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba was founded here. The scenic mountain hinterland known as the Sierras de Córdoba is dotted with colonial hermitages and tourist towns: Cosquín hosts an annual folklore festival and La Falda is a popular resort for excursions to the Sierra Chica. Around Córdoba, numerous Jesuit churches can be visited: Alta Gracia, 35km (22 miles) southwest of the city, is one of the best known. Also of interest is the town of Jesús María, which hosts the Fiesta Nacional de Doma y Folklore, an annual celebration of gaucho horsemanship and customs.

This picturesque city has a population of about a million people on the edge of a mountain range known as the Sierra Chica. Its name comes from the surrounding province, which embraces an unusually scenic section of the Andes, the Sierras de Córdoba. Due to its location in the shadow of the mountains, Córdoba is excellent for enchanting excursions into the Andes, as well as the Pampas a bit to the south. Córdoba was Argentina's center of arts and learning, a place of scholars and priests, churches and universities, before the rise of Buenos Aires. Although Cordoba still retains and independent spirit and distinctive grace, the city has fallen behind the capital in terms of national importance.

On the outskirts of Cordoba there are an unending supply of interesting spots and things to do. You will find that some of the more popular destinations include the following: Punilla Valley and Cuchi Corral are areas of exceptional beauty and offer some interesting activities such as bungee jumping and hot air balloon trips. On San Roque Lake can you practice windsurfing, yachting plus many other type of water activities. The Calamuchita Valley is renowned fo beautiful lakes and incredibly crystal clear rivers. Surrounded by mountains, this valley is an ideal spot for swimming, mountain climbing, trekking, cycling, horseback riding, fishing, and more. In the Traslasierra Valley, across the Sierras Grandes, there is the impressive Pampa de Achala. On one of the nearby mountain peaks you will find the Quebrada de los Condoritos National Park, the only place in the world where you can see the condor (biggest bird on earth) in their natural habitat.