What are the historical places in Argentina?

Though most of the historical places are located in Buenos Aires, the capital and the cultural hub of Argentina, if you travel to other provinces (like Misiones, Mendoza and Salta), you’ll be stunned by architectural masterpieces and the most interesting stories which combine natives and European history.

Buenos Aires has been always the capital of the country, even when it was still and Spanish colony! The notorious European architecture of the city combines with the traditional Latinoamerican shops, the modern port and the old,  the richest neighborhood and the poorest, make Buenos Aires above all a city of amazing cultural contrasts. 

Name after the May Revolution of 1810 when Argentina became independent, this square has been always the headquarter of Buenos Aires. Revolutions, celebrations and daily activities, all happened in this square, located in the microcentro, next to the Río de la Plata.

It was founded in 1580, and since then, it has been a witness of the political most important event of Argentinians. Things you can not miss if you visit Plaza de Mayo:

• The Casa Rosada, the Catedra Metropolitana and the Cabildo, the most important institutions and buildings surrounding the square.

• The Piramide de Mayo, located right in the middle of the square, contains the original pirámide that commemorated the May Revolution.
  
• The Pañuelos de las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo. Stand in front of the pyramid and look at your feet! You’ll see a bunch of White handkerchiefs encircling the pirámide. Here is where the internationally famous Madres de Plaza de Mayo (mothers whose children were kidnapped by the last Military Dictatorship) make their silent walk, every Thursday. You can join them at 3 pm every Thursday of the year.
  
• Find the metal signs on the floor and dial the indicated number to know about the history of Eva Perón and hear her famous speeches, given from the balcony of the Casa Rosada. 
  
  

The favorite historical place for spooky tourism lovers, this cemetery is like a médium-size village for the most famous deads of Argentina! Argentinan aristocracy, but also famous writers, artists and political characters were buried here, right in the bustling neighborhood of Recoleta.

In this city made of marvel mausoleums, decorated with the finest statues, death is not far away from the livings, since nothing can be buried on the marshy foundations of the cemetery. If you visit the Recoleta Cemetery try to find:

•  Eva Duarte mouseoleum, the famous “Evita”. It’s a big marvel structure named María Eva Duarte.
  
• The mausoleum of Raúl Alfonsín, the first elected president after the Dictatorship of 1976, brought back democracy in 1983.
  
•  Carlos Gardel mausoleum, the most famous tango singer of all times!
  
  

Though the most famous monument in Misiones is the Iguazú Falls, the historic place you must see if you visit the área are the Ruinas de San Ignacio, the first Jesuit misión founded in Argentina.

A couple of hours away from Puerto Iguazú you can visit the most well-conserved Jesuit Mission in South America built in the XVII century to evangelized the Guaranies, native to Misiones and the Mesopotamia. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a church, a cemetery, a school and many other original buildings. Its read Stone walls are an architectural spectacle to see. You don’t have to pay any entrance fee to see ruins, so you can wander through the archeological remains at your own pace. Take into account that if you want to book a guided tour of the ruins, you’ll only find Spanish-speaking guides.

An interesting fact about the San Ignacio Miní historic place: If you are in Puerto Iguazú and you don’t have the time to travel to San Ignacio you can visit the Guaminí Mission Hotel, an exact reproduction of the original Jesuit Ruins. You can visit the hotel, the inner garden where a reproduction of the church facade imposed, and also an interactive museum that features the history and traditions of Guaranies. There are relics that have been donated for this museum that can not be found anywhere else, not even in the village of San Ignacio!

Better known as the capital of the Argentinian wine country, Mendoza also features one of the most amazing historical places in Argentina, the Puente del Inca.

This a natural protected place, a natural bridge carved by the Río Cuevas by thousands of years. Its located in the Andes Mountain Range, and almost 2 hours away from Mendoza, near the Chilean border and the main entrance to the Aconcagua Park.

It is said that it was a part of the Inca commercial trails of the región. Its peculiar and complex natural structure, composed of natural hot springs under the bridge, gives this historic place its typical Golden color. Many years ago, the bridge and the hot springs could be visited, before conservationists advised the end of these tours. Today you can admire the Puente del Inca as beautiful and stunning as always from the northwest coast of Río Cuevas. 

An interesting fact about Puente del Inca: The legend of the Quechuas, the natives of the área, tells that three loyal warriors were turned into this Stone bridge to save the sun of the Inca King, that must need a way to cross the river and get to the hot springs and bath into their healing waters.

Jujuy features some of the most important archeological monuments of the región known as the North of Argentina. This is where the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a gorge made by colorful mountains, natural amphitheaters and quaint villages, declared UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts one of the treasures of the Precolombus era: The Pucará de Tilcara. 

Pucará means “fortress” in the native language of the Tilcaras, and was built in a strategic spot of the Quebrada. Built as a defensive headquarter, the pucarás used to be very important for social and religious life. The archeological site of Tilcara features many neighborhoods, a necrópolis and many places where religious ceremonies were held. It was discovered in 1908 and restored until 1968. Today, you can visit the reconstructions of the original stone houses and a Botanical Garden on High. 

An interesting fact about the historical place of Tilcara: The Pucará de Tilcara is famous in Latinamerica because the famous Argentine rock band Soda Stereo choose the location to film the video clip of the famous song “Cuando pase el temblor” (when the tremble ends).