Long Weekend in Cordoba - Day Trip to Alta Gracia - Museo Nacional Estancia Jesuitica

The Museo Estancia Jesuitica is also located at the main square and is part of the same complex as the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

It can be visited in less than an hour and comprises the main house of the Estancia, where the Jesuit religious lived. It has a nice garden with fruit trees which were blooming when I was there.

This Site is at the heart of the foundation of the city of Alta Gracia, named after an Invocation of the Virgin Mary to whom the person that received the lands was devoted to.

Long Weekend in Cordoba - Day Trip to Alta Gracia - Santuario de la Merced

Under pain of stating the obvious I will mention the Santuario of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that is smack in front of the main square in Alta gracia and which you will inevitably see.

It is a cute small church attached to the former Jesuit "Estancia" and now Museum. 

Built more than 400 years ago in a Baroque style and richly ornamented with gold leaf it also holds the remains of the city´s founder Don Manuel Solares.

Long Weekend in Cordoba - Day Trip to Alta Gracia

Alta Gracia is one of those small cities very close to the City of Cordoba  that is worth visiting for the day, being only 40 clicks away yo can be there in an hour and spend the day there.

It is the site of one of the Jesuit "Estancias" that are spread around Cordoba, and it has several museums to visit including the house where the "Che Guevara" lived when he was a kid.
 

Long Weekend in Cordoba - Strolling around Nueva Cordoba

Nueva Cordoba is neighbourhood adjacent to the downtown area which is worth visiting to check out its beautiful classical mansions, most turned museums or public venues.

Unfortunately during this last trip the museums in the city of Cordoba were closed due to covid restrictions, but in a normal time, there are enough museums to render a whole day of visits.
 

Long Weekend in Cordoba - Where to stay, Selina Cordoba

I have shared places where I stayed in the Past, even the Tango Hostel in the city of Cordoba. Since i am normally out all day I only consider a good bed and clean bathroom in my Hostel pick.

But this time I wanted to rest so i was going to spend some daytime hours at the Hostel, hence I chose one with a Swimming pool.

The Selina Cordoba located at San Lorenzo 163, was pretty good in its location, comfy bed and abundant breakfast, thus earning my praise and consideration for future stays, since its a chain that keeps its standards in all its Hostels.

 

Long Weekend in Cordoba - Modern Cordoba

There are some fine examples of Modern architecture in Cordoba alongside classic and colonial buildings. Some examples are the city hall (Centeo civico) called " The beehive" by common folk and the Bicentennial Park (Parque del Bicentenario) which are in important  areas of the city.

 

Long Weekend in Cordoba - Sacred Heart Church

 

Having talked about Cordoba´s religious architecture and considering that during my last stay I was doing photo op on churches, i have to tell you about one of the most beautiful churches in the City.

The Church of the Sacred Heart is located in neighbourhood of Nueva Cordoba which was an addition to the city after its Colonial splendour.

Also called the church of the Capuchins, since it belongs to the Capuchin religious order a branch of the Franciscans, its official name is the Sacred Heart church. 

Built with donations from wealthy families that lived in this neighbourhood during a wealthy period in Argentine history, the job was given to Italian architect Augusto Ferrari who designed the Temple in Neo Gothic style whit dyed cement fixtures and with only one tower purposely built like that and not the fruit of a shipwreck or other calamities attributed to the ship carrying the second tower.

If you go I do recommend you take the tour to one of the towers where you can see the surrounding areas and get acquainted with more details about this marvelous work of architecture.