The capital of the province is
the city of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca,
one of the most ancient cities in the country, founded, after several
attempts, in 1683. Its central district, framed by four wide avenues,
still displays its red-roofed colonial constructions with large
entrance gates and sunny courtyards. The main square is remarkable
for its beautiful and assorted tree species. Some of the more interesting
attractions include the Archaeological Calchaquí
Museum in the San Francisco Convent, and the Cathedral
that houses the honored icon of the Virgen del Valle (the
Virgin of the Valley).
One of the best-known surrounding attractions is
Cuesta del Portezuelo (Portezuelo Slope); located
17 km (11 miles) from the capital. It climbs Mount Ancasti slopes
and provides an extraordinary view of the central valley. The circuit
also includes the Church of La Chacarita, the Virgin's
Road, the Monument of Felipe Varela and the Church of San Isidro.
In Andalgalá, situated
200 km (125 miles) away from the city, the Inca fortress called
Pucará del Aconquija is well worth a visit.
57 km to the north the Capillitas Mines are also interesting. The
typical semi-precious stone, called 'rodocrosita' (pink stone widely
used for handicrafts) is extracted from these mines.
85 km (53 miles) to the west, up the Cuesta
de Belén (Belén's Slope'), the small village
of Belén lies by the side of the river of
the same name, submersed in a mountain scenery of great beauty.
It is the birth town of very typical loom-woven garments produced
with vicuña, llama and sheep wool. They are remarkable for
its skillful, design and knitting techniques transmitted by local
women generation after generation. It is also worth a visit the
Archaeological Museum Condor-Huasi which houses
a rich collection of stone items and pottery of the aborigine cultures
Ayampitín, Belén, Ciénaga, Aguada and Cóndor
Huasi.
Among the various archaeological findings in the
vicinity, it is important to mention the Inca ruins of the Shincal
de Quimivil. The Incas inhabited the area from 1470 to
1535. The urban layout is similar to that of Cusco, in accordance
to its status as provincial capital of this vast aborigine empire.
The site was discovered in 1981 and spreads over 21 hectares (52
acres) where remains of different constructions can be seen. Other
than this, important findings include a section of the Inca Trial,
ruins of aqueducts, defensive walls, ceremonial sites, stone stairs,
patios, and surveillance turrets.
Then we come to the remarkable Yokavil
Valley, also known as Santa María's Valley. Several
other pre-Columbian settlements can be visited here, including the
Fuerte Quemado (Burnt Fort), the Pucará
de Loma Rica (Loma Rica Fortress) and the Pucará
de los Cardones (Fortress of the Cardones). All these ruins
proudly reflect the spirit of a culture that is still alive in the
everyday life and customs of the current inhabitants of these lands.
The last town before reaching the limit of the
Province of Tucuman is Santa María, known
for its paprika mills, crafted wines, raisins, 'arropes', grapes,
and traditional knitted garments and colorful tapestries. It is
one of the towns in the province where the Carnival and Pachamama
(Mother Earth) celebrations are held in accordance of ancestral
aborigine habits.
A long way further north, the tiny hamlet of Antofagasta
de la Sierra is submersed in the core of the Catamarca's
Puna, at a height of 3,340 meters (11,123 feet) above sea level.
The region is worth staying a few days in order to get in touch
with the unbelievable volcanoes, lagoons, colonies of pink flamingoes
is settled, the abundant geogliphs, and the few rupestrian paintings.
It will take another full day to visit the pumice stone quarry at
Carachi Pampa. It is located 52 km away from Antofagasta.
The surroundings are plentiful of llamas, vicuñas and sheep
which share the life of this small adobe houses village, where the
local inhabitants seem to live an old life, faithful to their ancestral
customs.
|
