Page 195 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

C ÓRDOBA AND THE ANDEAN NOR THWEST  193

but bearable weather is
guaranteed all year round, making
Tafí del Valle an ideal base for
hiking, fishing, and horseback-
riding trips. Trails snake their way
up the surrounding peaks, which
include Cerro El Matadero and
Cerro Pabellón, both topping
10,000 ft (3,000 m).
The town has a number
of hotels, restaurants, and
adventure tourism agencies
around the central plaza.
The Hall of Independence at the Casa Histórica de la Independencia
y Quilmes
r San Miguel de collection of mate ware, Road map B1. 110 miles (177 km) NW
Tucumán textiles, and traditional of Tucumán. @ Open daily, subject
musical instruments. to staffing: check ahead by calling
Road map B1. 98 miles (158 km) NW (0381) 430-3644. & 8 7 limited. ®
of Santiago del Estero. * 530,000. E Casa Histórica de la ∑ tucumanturismo.gov.ar
k @ n 24 De Septiembre 484, Independencia
(0381) 430-3644. ∑ sanmiguelde Congreso 141. Tel (0381) 431-0826. One of the most important and
tucuman.gov.ar Open 10am–6pm daily. Sound-and- best preserved archaeological
Light Show: 8:30pm Fri–Wed. & sites in Argentina, the Quilmes
The biggest and economically ∑ museocasahistorica.org.ar ruins are the last vestiges of a
most important town in north- city founded by the pre-Incan
west Argentina, San Miguel de t Tafí del Valle tribe of the same name in the
Tucumán is located in the Rió 9th century AD. It was originally
Salí Valley, to the east of the Road map B1. 66 miles (107 km) W intended to be a bulwark
towering Sierra de Aconquija. of Tucumán. * 4,500. @ against Inca incursions. The
Usually known simply as n Los Faroles s/n. ∑ tucuman population peaked here in the
Tucumán, the town is a hectic, turismo.gov.ar 17th century, at close to 6,000.
rela tively thriving The settlement had by then
metropolis, with a A popular weekend held out for around 150 years
youthful popu lation getaway during the against attacks by the better-
and vib rant night life. blistering summer armed Spanish conquerors.
The city has played a key months, Tafí del Valle is a small The ruins have been expertly
role in Argentinian history town. It is located significantly excavated and pre served –
– it was here, on July 9, higher than Tucumán, stone walls, terraces, and even
1816, that Argentina Peruvian pelican, Casa making it cooler with entire buildings can be seen,
declared her inde pen- Histórica de la average summer and the effect of walking
dence from the Independencia temper atures of 12º C through them is haunting.
Spanish crown. The (54º F). The road The excellent on-site museum
room in which the fateful taking travelers up from the sticky displays tools and weaponry
démarche was delivered can be lowlands winds through forests excavated in the area. The
visited at the Casa Histórica de la and lemon orchards, and up Hotel Ruinas de Quilmes is
Independencia. The house, with into the pleasant highlands. Sunny located at the foot of the ruins.
a series of creeper-draped patios
and whitewashed col onnades,
was originally built in the late
1700s, but was razed to the
ground in the late 19th cen tury.
It was repla ced by a replica in the
1940s. A sound-and-light show in
the garden re-enacts the story of
how independence was declared.
Plaza Independencia is the
focal point of San Miguel de
Tucumán, with native trees,
a large pool, fountains, and a
statue repre senting Liberty.
Located nearby is Museo
Folklórico, housing a wide The excavated Quilmes ruins dating back to the 9th century AD

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