Cordoba Argentina Travel Guide
Introduction to Cordoba
Situated within the agriculturally rich plains known as the Pampas, Cordoba Argentina is this nation’s second largest city.
As you might expect, it is home to its fair share of cultural institutions, but that isn’t all that this prairie city has to offer, as some truly noteworthy natural attractions sit just outside its borders.
With plenty of universities, Cordoba is also a very young city, giving it an energy that will make your visit here a fun and boisterous one.
Cultural Attractions in Cordoba
Begin your visit to Argentina in Cordoba City by visiting the Jesuit Block and Estancias of Cordoba. Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, this place is easily this city’s top must-see attraction for travelers on a tight schedule.
Run by the aforementioned Christian sect until they were thrown out in North America by a decree made by the Spanish crown, and then deposed again after their return a century later by an Argentine government order that nationalized their school, this complex is home to Argentina’s oldest university, as it was founded over four hundred years ago.
The Estancias were farming estates that help make this compound self-sustaining in a time when this part of Argentina was frontier country; together with the church and university buildings, visiting here is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon in Argentina’s second-largest city.
Cordoba is not only home to Argentina’s oldest university, but it is also home to the Cathedral of Cordoba, which is the oldest continually operating church in Argentina.
Containing elements of Spanish Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, this cathedral’s top draw is its silver altar, which was constructed in Peru and transported here during its construction.
Named a National Monument in 1941, the Cathedral of Cordoba is the final resting place of many important generals, bishops, and other figures that were prominent in Argentina’s history.
A recent development in Cordoba’s cultural scene has been the creation and dedication of Museo Superior de Bellas Artes Evita.
Opened in 2007 to critical acclaim, this institution contains works from the likes of Fernando Fader, Francisco Goya, and Pablo Picasso, all of which are housed in a mansion that used to belong to the governor of Cordoba.
Sitting just off Sarmiento Park, it is a great place to go before or after spending an afternoon in one of this city’s greatest public spaces.
Other Attractions in Cordoba
Cordoba Argentina is uniquely positioned within easy traveling distance of a pair of great day trips. The first of these will take you to Laguna Mar Chiquita, which is ranked as being the fourth largest salt lake in the world.
Once as dense as the Dead Sea, it has since been diluted by the expansion of its footprint, rendering it only as salty as typical ocean water. Despite this, it is a fairly shallow lake, enabling it to heat up quickly in summer time to temperatures as high as 25 degrees Celsius, making it a popular place for locals to go swimming, despite its less than photogenic appearance.
Along the southern shore, there are spa resorts where you can use the allegedly therapeutic mud from its shores to rejuvenate your body, and the salt marshes that line the northern shore are nothing short of a birdwatcher’s heaven.
If you consider yourself an active traveler, you may want to head to Los Gigantes, as it is one of the nation’s fastest-growing rock climbing destinations. Take care to book a tour if you are not staying overnight, as there is only one bus that travels to this part of Cordoba province per day.
If you are, there are number of basic but cheap hostels and guesthouses that will cater to you and other enthusiastic rock scalers; don’t forget to bring a bottle of wine from town before coming out here so that you have plenty of wine to pass around for the apres climb festivities.
Staying in town instead? Observe the locals go about their daily lives at Sarmiento Park, which is Cordoba’s most beloved green space. Laid out by a French landscape artist, this beloved park resembles what you might expect to find in a city in France, as it contains many fountains, sculptures, lakes, and even a Greek amphitheater.
Aspects unique to this part of the world include numerous stands of palm trees, as well as the presence of outdoor restaurants known as lomiterias, which serve up all sorts of Argentine asado along with your choice of wine or beer during the warmer months of the year.