Excursions from Viedma and Patagones

Viedma and Carmen de Patagones

After a 920 km. drive from Buenos Aires we arrive in Carmen de Patagones, the southernmost city in the Province of Buenos Aires.

This town is of an astonishing beauty and particular charm. Walking in the downtown area we have the sensation of living in the past. Feeling and seeing colonial times. Among the mandatory visits you have a colonial type house called "La Carlota". It was built at the beginning of the 19^th. century in adobe and colonial roof tiles. It was named after its last owner, doña Carlota Martínez de Ibáñez, a lady from a traditional Spanish family. The house is furnished and surrounded by a small park. When leaving the house you can walk the streets down to the Río Negro, and continue along the beautiful corniche, visiting the piers and contemplating the big houses on the riverside. In the old times they were occupied by general stores that gave life to this harbor, so active then.

Torre del Antiguo Fuerte is another relic. Built in the 18^th. century with large sandstone blocks from the area. It symbolizes the effort of the national troops to preserve the sovereignty in the southern regions. It was declared a Historical Monument in 1942 and stands in the back of the Parochial Church. A visit to this church is also interesting. The first nave was built in 1885 and in its interior you can see the imperial flags from Brazil taken as war trophies during an attempted brazilian invasion in 1827. According to tradition, the two flags belonged to the famous corvette Itaparica.

The image of the patron saint of the city carved in wood is also kept here. This image was created in the 18^th. century and is the oldest in southern Argentina.

Another recommended visit is to the Museo Histórico Regional "Francisco de Viedma". It was founded on the 14^th. of July of 1951 and has more than 7900 pieces that summarize the historical richness of the city.

A monument was erected in this place, one hundred years later as a reminder of the action. It was also declared a national historical site in 1961. Today it is one of the best lookout points of the region, since from there you can appreciate the river, the two bridges, the islands and the two cities..

Crossing the Río Negro, we arrive in Viedma, capital of the Province of Río Negro. The cities of Viedma and Carmen de Patagones have a common a history, beginning with the fact the both were founded on the same day, the 22^nd. of April of 1779.

The communication between both cities is done through two bridges, one is a railway bridge and the other one is exclusive for vehicles. There is also a boat service that communicates both piers with a 15 minute frequency. This is only a day service and it is recommended. Viedma is a modern city with few traces of its past. The most important ones are concentrated in the Historical Block, where the Cathedral and the Salesian School with a beautiful chapel are located. Ceferino Namuncurá (a son of indian chiefs that because of his pious work is considered a saint) studied here. A few kilometers on Route 3 you will find the I.DE.V.I. Instituto de Desarrollo del Valle Inferior (Institute for the Development of the Lower Valley). It is a rural area along the last section of the Río Negro with an extension of 80,560 hectares. Only 26,000 hectares have irrigation and drainage infrastructure. The main produces are onions, potatoes, apples, plums, pears, walnuts, almonds, wheat, corn, among others and also cattle an deer raising. There are other rural establishments to visit and where you can spend the night.