CÓRDOBA
You are about to discover a unique and privileged place in South America, a city recognized by its history, culture, and university tradition. It is also characterized by the beauty of its landscapes of hills, rivers, and lakes, the elegance of its malls, its artistic vanguard, and its role as an unquestionable protagonist in the formation and development of Argentina. All these features make Córdoba one of the best options to take courses in any field of study, do businesses, or enjoy some vacations in a place where old traditions intermingle with the energy and modernity of an open, cult, and tolerant society. Since Córdoba is one of the safest cities in Argentina, you can look around it at any time. The university life concentrates more than 150,000 students who come not only from the country, but also from South America, Europe, and Australia. Its academic offer, and its varied thematic, sporting, artistic, and entertaining activities have turned Córdoba in the most important student city in Argentina.
Because of its characteristics, Córdoba has an outstanding nightlife with many pubs and discos. It has also modern buildings, and malls, that together with its landscapes, mountain adventures, its rich vegetation and the local fauna make Córdoba the perfect place to combine the urban with the natural life.
With almost a million and a half inhabitants, Córdoba is an attractive destiny for investors from all over the world as well as for the development of new businesses, constituting an important center of economic and industrial growth of national relevance due to its strategic location. This city has also the second biggest international airport in the country, with flights to America and the rest of the world. Located in the center of Argentina, Córdoba is chosen as the ideal base to know the rest of the country. To sum up, this is a place you will enjoy because of its people, its cultural level, and its metropolitan life surrounded by exuberant beauty and nature.
The quality of Córdoba’s human resources in the teaching field, the tradition and prestige of its academic institutes, the international fame of its sportsmen, the outstanding position it has reached in different fields of knowledge, the arts, the technology, and the culture in general turn Córdoba into a destiny to be taken into consideration. Here you will surely find what you are looking for as if it were a meeting point of trends, visions of the world and vanguards, everything in a frame of tolerance, respect, and hospitality.
The “Cordobeses” people are very friendly towards the eager traveler and they will make you feel at home while you explore the history and magic of the area
Climate
The climate of the city of Córdoba, as that of most of the province, is moderated by the altitude and, especially, the pampas winds, cold winds that blow from the South-western quadrant, originates in the Antarctica.
In January and February, the hottest months of the austral summer, the average maximum is 31 °C and the minimum 17 °C. In June, July and August, the coldest month of the year, the average temperatures are between 19 °C and 3 °C. In winter it is very frequent that temperatures rise above 30 °C, due to the influence of the wind Zonda.
Due to the extension of the metropolitan area, there exists a difference of 3 °C between the central area and the Greater Córdoba or Mountains areas. The central district, a densely high-rise area is located in a depression, and it is the core of an important heat island.
Adventure & Alternative Tourism
If you are the type of traveler that wants to get in contact with nature, contemplate the world around you and rediscover yourself, the sierras of Cordoba are the ideal place to embark on your adventure. Here it is possible that you will feel nature at its fullest potential.
Some of the alternative adventure activities include: Trekking, Hiking, Scuba-diving, Horseback-riding, Rock-Climbing, Cave-Exploring, Mountain-biking, Off-roading 4×4, Fishing, Hunting and Hang-Gliding.
Be aware that weekends, especially in summer months, are full of visitors to the sierras and traffic can be heavy. Small buses and vans leave throughout the day from the bus terminals around the city.
Jesuit Legacy
The “Road of the Jesuit Estates” is recognized by UNESCO as a national heritage and allows the tourist to discover the world-renown values and importance of these historic places. On this journey you will be able to discover scenery, traditions and customs that make up the cultural identity of Cordoba.In 1599 the religious order known as the “Jesus Company” arrived in Cordoba and in 1767 when King Carlos III was expelled from Argentina, the Jesus Company established a unique socio-cultural, religious, and economic territory in Latin America which is clearly identified in Cordoba, where you can see and explore the remnants that remain today.
The most important Estates open for you to visit today are Caroya (1616), Jesús María (1618), Santa Catalina (1622), Alta Gracia (1643) La Calendaria (1678) and San Ignacio (1725).
Food & Dining
Cordoba is no exception to the rule. Here you can find some of the best traditional foods in Argentina known to the locals as “Comida Criolla”.
Cordoba has a wide range of restaurants to choose from. Whether you are on a tight budget or you are willing to splurge on fine dining you have many options to choose from. A typical breakfast in Cordoba consists of coffee, juice and a danish or “factura” as they are known to the locals and breakfast is served from 7am-10am in most all restaurants and corner cafes.
Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and most restaurants open from 12pm-3pm to serve lunch. It is common to find Pre-fixe meals that offer a beverage, main dish and dessert. Most locals eat a snack or “merienda” at around 5 or 6pm which usually consists of coffee, tea, and/or a pastry.
Please be aware that dinner is served late in Cordoba. Most restaurants are not open to serve dinner before 9pm and usually stay open until 1am or 2am.The types of restaurants in Cordoba range from fast-food to fine dining where high quality food and wines are served. The most common type of restaurant is the Resto Bar where you can find anything from Pizza to Steak and Pasta and they are located on all city blocks.
One type of restaurant you cannot miss while you are in Cordoba is the Parrilla or Parrillada. This is a meat-lovers paradise where you will be served a traditional Argentine Barbecue that normally includes organ meats along with pieces of steak and a variety of salads usually at a fixed price.
Córdoba - The Heart of the Country
Cultural and touristic, traditional and modern, industrial and handcrafted, Córdoba is one of the most important economic centers of the country. This region is characterized by its hilly landscape and mild weather, combining natural landscapes with colonial architectural monuments. Little towns, historical antiques and cave paintings are found in a pleasant valley landscape, high plains and gorges. Cordoba’s hills rise towards the northwestern Pampas plains. They reach its maximum altitude of 2.790 m. with the ChampaquiHill.
All these hills are particularly appealing because of their fertile valleys, deserts and salt mines. Heading northwards, visitors shall find many 17th and 18th century chapels and estancias inherited from the Jesuits. The five Jesuit Estancias, together with the Jesuit Block, located in the heart of the capital city, were declared Patrimony of Mankind by the UNESCO.