Description
The tour begins in Mendoza’s foundation district, where history and urban greenery converge. Along San Martín Avenue, the tree-lined Paseo de las Alamedas offers shaded paths, fountains, and broad sidewalks. Just a few blocks away lies Plaza Pedro del Castillo, once the civic and religious heart of colonial Cuyo until a devastating earthquake in 1861 reshaped the city’s layout.
At the center of the square stands a museum built over the original foundations of the colonial Cabildo. Nearby, the San Francisco Ruins—remnants of a Jesuit church declared a historical monument—recall the moment when the first vows were sworn to the flag of the Army of the Andes under General San Martín.
The tour continues through Plaza Independencia and the neighboring squares of España, Chile, Italia, and San Martín. From there, the route leads along Mitre Avenue to the Civic District, home to the Government House, the City Hall, the Judicial Branch, and the Governor Emilio Civit Congress and Exhibition Center. Within the Government House is the Flag Room, where the banner carried by San Martín’s troops during the liberation of Chile is kept.
The visit ends at General San Martín Park, a vast 420-hectare (1037-acre) green space. After exploring its key landmarks, the ascent to Cerro de la Gloria reveals a monument to the Army of the Andes—an impressive sculpture by Uruguayan artist Juan Ferrari. From the summit, a sweeping panoramic view of Mendoza unfolds.
