Cordoba Travel Guide
713km (442 miles) NW of Buenos Aires; 721km (447 miles) NE of Mendoza
Córdoba, Argentina's second largest city with 1.3 million inhabitants, was created as a stop for Spaniards traveling between Peru and the Atlantic coast. It was founded in 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, who honored his wife's family by naming this South American city after their Spanish home. The Jesuits arrived at the end of the 16th century, opening Córdoba's university in 1613 and financing their projects by establishing six large estancias throughout the region. Today you can follow the "road of the Jesuit estancias" by arranging a tour with a local travel agent.
Built at the bottom of what is essentially a hole, Córdoba was once plagued by flooding. As a result, a small stream called La Cañada was created with walls around it to capture the water, and today La Cañada is one of the city's symbols. Moving into downtown, Córdoba's most important historical sights line up around Plaza San Martín, including the Cabildo, cathedral, Marqués de Sobre Monte's residence, and the Jesuit Block. The Manzana Jesuítica, as it is called in Spanish, developed not just as a place of worship, but also as an intellectual and cultural center that produced Argentina's top doctors and lawyers. It includes the Jesuit churches, the university, and a prestigious secondary school. In 2000, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became a historic museum. The city still serves as an intellectual center, although the economic crisis and dispersion of universities throughout the country has lessened some of Córdoba's luster.
