North, April 03, 2009
Salta City
It is the capital city of Salta province and lies 1,187 meters above sea level. Founded in 1582, it is the Argentine city having best preserved its colonial style, featuring buildings such as the Cabildo and the San Francisco Church.
Salta is regarded as one of the Argentine cities visted the most by tourists all over the world.
When to get there:
Because of its pleasant temperatures all year round and its many attractions, the city of Salta can be accessed at any time.
Climate:
It is dry and temperate, with an annual mean temperature of 16º C and a 700 mm yearly rainfall. Summer tends to be rainiest season.
How to get there:
By land: National Route 9 –connecting it with Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Jujuy-, and the National Route 68 –connecting it with Calafate-. By plane: from Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Tucumán and Jujuy, and international flights departing from cities in neighboring countries. All planes land at the Gral. Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport 9 Km. away from the city.
Lying at a 1,187 meter altitude above sea level,
Salta is regarded as one of the Argentine cities visted the most by tourists all over the world. It was founded back in 1582, and still preserves its typically colonial architecture, featuring a large number of the XVIII and XIX century´s buildings such as the Cabildo, the San Francisco Church and the San Bernardo Convent. Other centers of attraction characterizing this charming Northern city with more than 500,000 inhabitants are the Crafts Market, the San Bernardo Hill and the Tren a la Nubes (the Train to the Clouds), one of the highest railroad systems in the world.
Places not to be missed in Salta
Salta is endowed with a valuable architectural heritage epitomized by its colonial constructions, such as the Cabildo and one tower – whose revamping project dates back to 1783;- the San Francisco Church – featuring a museum and a library –and the San Bernardo Convent– regarded as Salta´s most ancient religious building. As to its carob tree portal, it was made by the native indians.
It stands as the first Argentine craft markets, which opened back in 1968. Several of Salta´s traditional products like chaste baskets and fans, musical instruments such as– bass drums, reed flutes, small five-stringed guitars- originally manufactured fabrics and leather crafts are on exhibit in its stalls. Edible products and regional wines are sold, as well.
It was built in 1858 aiming at replacing the ancient Cathedral, which had been damaged by a fire. It features a gold-laminated altar -with Jesus´ Image, that of the Miracle Virgin-, and the Pantheon of the Northern Glories, where the remains of Gral. Martín Miguel de Güemes, the hero of the Independence War, are buried. The Cathedral Museum lies at the back of this buildin
The folk peñas stay open until the small hours of the morning, and are known as the best choice to make when wanting to listen to the traditional Northern region music. Balcarce street features a variety of peñas like La Vieja Estación, La Panadería del Chuña and La Cacharpaya. These settings are endowed with great popularity and attract both local and foreign visitors from all over the world.
It lies in the city center, and it was founded in 1999 upon the discovery of "the children of Llullaillaco Volcano - three frozen Inca children living more than 500 years ago were found at the peak of the volcano at a 6,700 m height. As to this phenomenon, it is conceived as one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs of recent times.
With a 1,454 meter height, it features a Telepheric Complex enabling tourists to be carried up to the top – a distance that may also be covered by car. At the peak of this hill there lie a Cross and a Majestic Christ The Reedemer Statute - which were put up in 1901 and 1903 respectively – allowing us to get a wonderful all-embracing view of the city and the Lerma Valley.
It lies just 10 Km away from the city of Salta at 1,450 meters above sea level. It is a Summer village ideally suited for open air activities –such as trekking, horse and quatricycle riding– and for resting purposes. Its mountainous jungle, rivers and streams, turn San Lorenzo village into one of Salta´s settings chosen by tourists, who may seek accommodation in hotels or picturesque cabins.
Its itinerary begins in the city of Salta and goes on amidst the mountains, climbing up to a 4,200 meter height. It is regarded as a genuine engineering master-piece, made up of 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 zigzags and 2 “spirals”. Along this train journey, tourists may gaze at the multicolor hills, the small Andean populations and the milenary civilization ruins. It is a 16-hour trip.
