Mendoza Information

Menodza's History

Área Fundacional (1561)The Área Fundacional is the site where Pedro del Castillo deposited the first rock of the city of Mendoza for its construction. The Plaza, which carries the same name as its founder surrounds the Museum of Área Fundacional.

The museum was constructed over the old town hall; on the interior guests can appreciate the archaeological excavations and the underground chambers. There, you find the first fountain of the city, which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1861. In the northeast corner of the plaza, you find the Ruins of San Francisco, belonging to the Church of San Francisco which was constructed in the 17th century by the Jesuits .

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To See and to visit

MENDOZA'S SQUARES

The Independencia Square

is the principle plaza in the city of Mendoza. Here, you find the Museum of Modern Art and an artisan fair; in front of this Plaza you also find the Teatro Independencia. Just three blocks from the principle plaza on its four diagonals you find the four other main plazas: San Martín, España, Italia y Chile. When creating this new city, they had in mind the distribution of green and open spaces so that in the case of earthquakes, the people of Mendoza would have access to these green areas nearby.

San Martín Square

here you find the equestrian statue of the Liberator San Martín. In one of the corners is the Basilica of San Francisco, constructed in 1880 where the image of our Señora del Carmen Cuyo is located, the patron of the Andes Army and San Martin´s commanding baton.

España Square

This is where the monument is located to commemorate the bond between Spain and Argentina. The artisanal tiles stand out and create a space of exposition for artisan sales and traditional festivals of the community for Spanish residents in our province.

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Italia Square

Features Italian tiles and monuments and a beautiful, abundant tree grove. In March, before Vendimia (harvest), Italian immigrants commemorate the “Festa in Piazza” with traditional performances and Italian food.

Chile Square

Covered in beautiful and extensive trees, in Plaza Chile you find the monument in memory of O´Higgins and San Martín. It is a perfect place for meeting and for festivities, given our ample community of residents from our neighboring country of Chile.

Civic Neighborhood of Mendoza

Located on Pedro Molina avenue, is the land where they built the Government House, the Judicial Palace, and the Capital Municipality building. Surrounded by parks and fountains, this space is home to the Sanmartiniano Memorial, featuring the original flag of the Liberation Army as it relates to the crossing of the Andes mountains and the liberation of Chile under the command of General José de San Martín. Also, here you find the Congress Center as well as the Ángel Bustelo Expositions and the Enoteca (Wine Museum).

Parque General San Martín

Parque General San Martin is the most important urban park in Mendoza. It consists of 307 cultivated hectors, 17 kilometers around, and 82 hectors of expansion. The main entrance to the park is notorious for its “Portones” large gate doors crowned with a figure of the condor and the shield of Mendoza, gifted by the French government in 1909.

Marked by a grand variety of roses and sculpture reproductions, you find the “Rosedal,” a pedestrian path in French–style constructed in 1919. From this path, pedestrians have a beautiful view of the “Lago del Parque,” Park Lake, a recreational work of grand magnitude from 1906, which has since served the lovers of the regatta who can practice the discipline here. In the same sector, the “Fuente de los Continentes,” Fountain of the Continents stands out for its beautifully sculpted structure, the water formations and the lights.

If the park was constructed in 1906, its origin dates back to 1896 relating to the politics surrounding environmental wellness. For this motive, landscape architect Daniel Ramos Correas remodeled and amplified the park in 1940. This is the origin of the “Jardín Zoológico” which features an ample variety of animal species. This also marked the transformation of the “Cerro de la Gloria,” Glory Hill, which watches over the city where today you can find decadent sculptures and the Monument to the Andean Army, as well as the “Griego Frank Romero Day Amphitheatre” where they hold the National Vendimia Festival.

The park serves as the “Green lung” for free public access to green spaces. It´s the favorite meeting spot for Mendocinians and tourist alike to partake in recreational activities like running, mountain biking as well as excursions, guided visits and is the perfect place to eat outside. In 1996, this was declared the “Área Urbano Ambiental,” Urban Environmental Area. There is Access to the park by Avenue Amilio Civit or Boulogne Sur Mer by bike, in car, in bus or by foot.

History of wine

Mendoza is considered worldwide to be the land of sunshine and good wine, which has thus a strong culture and tradition of winemaking. Mendoza´s wineries produce good quality and good quantity wines in an ever-growing and ever-evolving industry. After the founding of Mendoza, viticulture activities began earning land. The theory was first introduced with Pedro de Castillo (founder of Mendoza) who introduced the vine from Chile, and then later with Juan Jufré who was responsible for the first vineyard plantations between 1569 and 1575. In 1700, the lands for winemaking activity were contributed to by their closeness to the principle Plaza and the city itself.

“Throughout the middle ages, a new viticulture map in Europe was designed under the prestige of regional wines and religious beliefs – both Christian and Islamic. With the beginning of the Renaissance, a new chapter in the world of wine began, because in the 15th and 16th centuries when the vitification systems improved, the wines of Borgoña, Champaña and Burdeos of France began to acquire fame and became celebrities. Let´s not forget Don Perignon who during this time discovered how to make sparkling champagne.

The tradition of French wines arrived to America through the Spanish, who transported figs and fig trees, olives and vines when they came during the Conquest. The vine in Argentina arrived from Chile together with the first colonizers who stepped foot in the country.

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Wine Route

The different wine routes are symbols of flavours and sensations of the grape of the region. Argentina is among the top producers of wine in the world. The viticulture industry has achieved market conquests among the most demanding consumers, resulting in a growing number of tourists who wish to combine a relaxing vacation with tasting of excellent wines, delicious gastronomy, and the distinguished hotels in the city or lodges in the wineries.

There are an ample variety of visits to distinguished wineries that allow you to visit the vineyards, see the winemaking process, eat at their restaurants, and walk their beautiful land to enjoy the mountain views. Mendoza, located in the western zone of Argentina is located at the foothills of the Andes Cordillera and here you find the largest quantity of the most well-known wineries: Catena Zapata, Ruca Malén, O Fournier, Atamisque, López, Navarro Correas, Bianchi, Chandon, Escorihuela, Familia Zuccardi, Vistalba Wines, Trapiche, Flichman, La Rural, Norton, Luigi Bosca, Salentein, La Azul, Clos de los Siete, Lagarde, Nieto Senetiner, Alta Vista, Kaiken, Cruzat, Achaval Ferrer, Belasco de Baquedano, Séptima, Decero, and Viña Cobos among others. In the high river zone in Mendoza, the majority of the noble varieties adapt easily to the climate. Still, Malbec is the most popular planted variety. The northern zone of Mendoza province is apt for the planting of white grapes and young red varieties.

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THE PROVINCE OF MENDOZA HAS FOUR PRINCIPLE WINE REGIONS:

Central Region

The departments of Godoy Cruz, Guaymallén, Maipú, and Luján de Cuyo dominate this as the primary zone.

Uco Valley

This valley reaches altitudes of 1,200 meters and is formed by the departments of Tunuyán, Tupungato, and San Carlos. It is located 100 kilometers south of Mendoza city. Uco Valley is equipped with modern installations for winemaking and produces Premium wines.

The Central Valley

is located 50 kilometers east of the city, composed of the departments San Martín, Santa Rosa, Rivadavia and La Paz. This valley has the most vineyards of Mendoza. Today, their wineries have improved in quality and the influx of tourists has grown notably.

Southern Region

the departments of General Alvear and San Rafael comprise this region located 250 kilometers south of Mendoza city. The two departments present famous wineries and ideal temperatures for the development of different grape varieties, especially for white and sparkling wines. In these four regions, tourists can enjoy the typical gastronomy of the zones in restaurants as well as in the wineries among the vineyards. There are also beautiful places to stay in these regions from 5 star hotels, to beautiful lodges, and even lodging at some wineries.