Page 171 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

ARGENTINIAN LIT OR AL  169

better known to Argentinians 0 Mercedes
as the birthplace of revered Road map C2. 167 miles (270 km) SE
Independence hero General of Corrientes. * 35,000. @ n
José de San Martín (see p55). Sarmiento 650, (03773) 1541-2216.
At the eastern edge of the main _ Fiesta del Chamamé (Nov).
Plaza San Martín is Templete ∑ mercedescorrientes.gov.ar
Sanmartiniano, which preserves
the ruins of the small fort where A gateway to the stunning
the liberator spent his childhood. Esteros del Iberá (see pp170–71),
To the south of the plaza is Mercedes is a sleepy town with
Museo de Cultura Jesuítica lovely 19th-century streets
Guillermo Furlong, which sits and distinc tive adobe
atop the Jesuit mission’s build ings. The town’s
red sand stone single museum is housed
foundations. It houses within the Casa de la
Jesuit arti facts and Cultura. Exhibits here
wooden panels detailing include bayo neted rifles
the history of the recovered from 19th-
Towering yatay palm protected at Parque region. At the southern century civil war battle-
Nacional El Palmar end of town is Museo grounds. Mercedes
Sanmartiniano, Wooden horse display, has several shops,
8 Parque Nacional displaying weaponry Museo Jesuítica such as Manos
El Palmar that belonged to the Corrientes, that
San Martíns. sell exquisite gaucho ware.
Road map C2. 31 miles (50 km) N A 6-mile (9-km) drive west of
of Colón. n Ruta Nacional 14, E Museo de Cultura Jesuítica town is a roadside shrine to
Ubajay (03447) 493-053. Guillermo Furlong local saint-hero Gauchito Gil.
Open daily. & 0 - =  Sargento Cabral & Romero.
Open 8am–noon & 2–6pm Mon–Fri. E Casa de la Cultura
Covering an area of 33 sq miles E Museo Sanmartiniano Parque Mitre. Open Dec–Mar: 4–8pm
(85 sq km), Parque Nacional El Ave Libertador s/n. Open 8am–4pm daily; Apr–Nov: 8am–noon,
Palmar was created in 1965 to daily. & 2–6pm daily.
conserve the yatay palm, which
once covered most of the Entre The Legend of Gauchito Gil
Ríos and Corrientes provinces.
These tall, slender trees were in Popular saint Gauchito Gil was a deserter from a 19th-century
danger of extinc tion from mass provincial war. On escaping to the mountains, he became a Robin
clearing for farming and forestry Hood-type figure who stole from rich landowners to give to the
in the early 20th century. The poor. His legend was sealed on his capture, where at his hanging
park also protects large swathes he is said to have whispered to his executioner, “When you go home
of marshland and gallery forest. you will find your son dying. Pray for my intercession, for the blood
The park is home to myriad of an innocent can perform miracles.” The hangman returned home
fauna, including reptiles such as to find his son in agony. After the child’s recovery, he erected a cross
the tegu lizard and the ostrich- hung with a red ribbon in honor of Gauchito. Today, this site is a
ribbon-festooned, candle-adorned shrine covered with messages
like ñandú. The wet lands and beseeching the intercession of Gauchito. Such is Argentina’s
gallery forests are a refuge for reverence for this popular saint, who is not recognized by the
herons, kingfishers, and Vatican, that each January on the anniversary of Gil’s hanging,
woodpeckers, while otters and up to 100,000 pilgrims visit the shrine.
capybaras inhabit the park’s
riverbanks. Hiking trails criss-
cross the park, which is also
traversable by car.
9 Yapeyú
Road map D2. 245 miles (395 km) SE
of Corrientes. * 3,000. @ n
Sargento Cabrán & Gregoria Matorra
(03772) 493-198. ∑ corrientes.com.
ar/yapeyu
Founded as a base in 1626 by
Jesuits seeking to convert the Gaucho Antonio Gil’s shrine where pilgrims tie red ribbons
indigenous Guaraní, Yapeyú is

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