City Tour: Salta, the Northern culture center

In Salta, nature constitutes an explosion of colors that multiply in hills and ravines. However, not only is it a city offering nature to enjoy, but it is also tinged with history; more history than most of the rest of Argentine cities. It was one of the first settlements to be founded, and the chosen home of affluent families related to Alto Perú. This is the reason its streets are a true treasure, crowded with colonial constructions, churches and monuments.

The tour around the Histórical downtown of Salta is a must. It is possible to start with the visit to the 9 de Julio square, then walking by the arcades that surround it. To finish the 9 de Julio square area, it is impossible not to visit the Cathedral Basílica and, right opposite to it, the historical Northern Cabildo.

After doing this an interesting option is to take Caseros street towards San Bernardo Hill. After a few blocks from the square youwill get to the impressive San Francisco Church. A few metres from there, the San Bernardo Convent shows its magnific carob gate built by the aborigins in 1762.

Following Caseros street but in opposite direction (200 metres from 9 de Julio square) you will arrive to the Leguizamón and Arias Rengel residences, both of them converted into museums. Very close there is the former Hernández House, now turned into the Museum of the City.

Another architectural jewel is the handcrafts market (2555 San Martín), the first one in the country.

The entertainment and gastronomy centre of Salta Caseros is in Balcarce street, from the old Rail Station. More than thirty bars, "peñas", restaurantes and cafés invites the visitors to enjoy the night of Salta. On weekends there is a fair of knittings, ceramics, basketwork and regional sweets.

To put the cherry on the cake in the visit to Salta, the best thing is to do the ascension to the San Bernardo Hill, a privileged panoramic viewpoint in terms of the contemplation of the total extension of Valle de Lerma (Lerma Valley).