Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

PB  ARGENTINA REGION B Y REGION

228  ARGENTINA REGION B Y REGION

A view from Viedma across Río Negro to Iglesia Parroquial Nuestra Señora del Carmen
1 Carmen de east of the tower. Most famous, Salesiano Cardenal Cagliero.
Patagones though, is La Carlota, an 1820s It is housed within the
house accessed via guided tour Manzana Histórica, which was
Road map C4. 597 miles (960 km) S of
Buenos Aires. * 20,000. @ g from the Museo Histórico. once the head quarters of a
n Mitre 84, (02920) 464-819. Salesian mis sion established in
_ Fiesta de 7 de Marzo (Mar). E Museo Histórico Regional 1880. The museum preserves
Emma Nozzi some splendid architectural
Both the northern gateway to Ave J. J. Biedma 64. Tel (02920) 462- details and displays various
Patagonia and a historical jewel, 729. Open varies (call in advance). religious artifacts. Also housed
the small town of Carmen de within the Manzana Historica
Patagones was founded as a fort is the Museo Gardeliano.
settlement in 1779. The first 2 Viedma Displaying vintage artifacts
settlers arrived from Spain a year Road map C4. 1 mile (2 km) S of and showing films related
later and were forced to dig Carmen de Patagones. * 60,000. ~ to the singer-songwriter,
caves into the banks of Río @ g n Ave Francisco de Viedma filmmaker, and tango legend
Negro for shelter, the remains 51, (02920) 427-171. _ Fiesta de 7 de Carlos Gardel, it is also used as
of which can still be seen. Marzo (Mar). ∑ viedma.gov.ar a multicultural, multimedia
To explore the town’s history, space for the arts.
visitors should head to the Located across Río Negro from
jumble of streets between Plaza Carmen de Patagones, Viedma E Museo Salesiano
7 de Marzo and the port area. is a small town but with good Cardenal Cagliero
On the waterfront, housed in traveler services. It also boasts Manzana Histórica, Ave Rivadavia.
a building dating from 1799, what is considered to be Tel (02920) 1561-3355. Open varies.
is Museo Histórico Regional Patagonia’s most aesthetically E Museo Gardeliano
Emma Nozzi. It has displays inspired museum, Museo As above. Open as above.
on 19th-century Carmen de
Patagones; one of the old The Welsh in Patagonia
settlers’ caves can be accessed
via the museum’s patio. The Welsh presence in Patagonia dates from 1865, when 153
On the plaza is Iglesia pio neers set sail for a land they saw as free of English domination.
Parroquial Nuestra Señora del They made landfall two months later, founding Puerto Madryn on
Carmen. Two Brazilian flags the Argentinian coast, before settling 60 miles (100 km) to the south
hang on either side of its altar, in the more fertile Chubut Valley. It is this region that constitutes the
cap tured in 1827 after the defeat heart of Welsh Patagonia. Here, Welsh chapels dot the landscape,
of a Brazilian inva sion force. teahouses are run by the
On the same block, although pioneers’ descendants, and,
slightly obscured, is the Torre in Gaiman especially, the
Welsh language is widely
del Fuerte watch tower, the spoken. The year’s biggest
single surviving remnant of celebration is the
the town’s original military fort. Eisteddfod (see p46), a
Several mud-brick abodes from Welsh music and poetry
the early 1800s, located south festival that dates from
of the tower, are open to visits, medieval times.
including Rancho Rial, while A Welsh farmhouse in Gaiman
Casa de la Cultura is one block
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp282–3 and pp296–8

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm