Archive for the ‘Mendoza’ Category

Mendoza

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Mendoza is the capital city of the Mendoza Province in the country of Argentina. The city is situated in the north central part of the province, surrounded by foothills and high plains. As of latest measurement the city has a population of about 900 thousand people, making Greater Mendoza the 4th largest census metropolitan area in Argentina.

The city of Mendoza was originally found in 1561, since then a lot of historical buildings and place of interests have established around city center. A few of the tourist sightseeing include the Ruinas de San Francisco mission in the Ciadad Vieja, the Parque San Martin and the Museo Fundacional. When feeling like shopping during weekend, visit Plaza Espana where artisans markets are being held. If you prefer relaxing and enjoying with a drink choose to sit on the sidewalk terraces on Avenida San Martin.

As Mendoza is worldwide famous for its Argentinian wine industry it’s recommended to visit one of the many wineries just outside city center. Fine wine tasting, a tour on the farms and wine chambers are included for a day of fun, plus a chance to buy wine straight of the producer. Other tourist attractions around Mendoza include skiing in the los Penitentes, exploring mountains in Uspallata or visiting Aconcagua on the border of Chile to have a look at South America’s highest mountain the Cerro Aconcagua.

Travelers to Mendoza need a valid passport. American citizens don’t require a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. The best time to visit the city is from March to May and August to November. These months the temperatures aren’t too high and there is little rain. Mendoza also provides outdoor possibilities in the Sierras mountains.