Córdoba Overview

Overview

Ask any Argentinian about their favorite part of the country and many will respond: the province of Cordoba. This region, in the centre of the country and about 800 km from the capital Buenos Aires, is known to be a hot spot for those who want to enjoy pure, rough nature. Mountains, rivers, lakes, forest, you can find everything in Cordoba. Surrounded by nature you will also find famous villages like for example Villa Carlos Paz, Mina Clavero, Villa General Belgrano and San Marcos Sierra. Besides, the capital of the province, also named Cordoba, is an interesting town full of movement. The city is called La Docta because of the many universities and scientific institutes. Around 200.000 people study here, which make the city one of those with the youngest and liveliest appearance in South America. There is much cultural and night life, above all in the Güemes and Alta Córdoba areas and in the red light district, the Ex Abasto, called so because until 1990 there had been a huge market area (Mercado de Abasto, now in the city outskirts). The colonial architecture of the city center is now cohabiting with many modern buildings. Although the oldest buildings are found in the surroundings of the Plaza San Martín (microcentro), the most pleasant areas are now the Nueva Córdoba district south of the centre and the area around the Cañada, a small river which crosses the city. These areas show a mix of well-designed modern buildings and old houses, often built in neo-colonial style. The Barrio Güemes, which is protected by municipal laws, is particularly pleasant, with an 19th century athmosphere rather similar to Buenos Aires' "San Telmo" district, but more movement. The city district itself covers 529 square km and has 1,3 million inhabitants, but there are many satellite towns outside this area. Those west of the city lie in the hills of the Sierras de Córdoba and are residential areas with some tourist interest, such like Río Ceballos, La Calera, and the famous holiday centre Villa Carlos Paz near the San Roque dam, which provides the city with potable water and some electricity. North and east of the city, in the plains, there are poor suburbs with a slum-like appearance, like Juárez Celman and Malvinas Argentinas. The climate in city and surroundings is pleasant the year round. Even in winter there are frequent warm, sunny days, although you must be prepared for cold nights and some chilly, cloudy periods, which never last more than a week or so. In summer, the rainy season (November to March) it is hot and humid and there are frequent innundations because of the bad state of the drainage system. Best time to visit is March to May and August to November, when it's not too hot nor too cool and there is very little rain.