ATTRACTIONS

Travellers that decide to take a stroll through downtown San Salvador de Jujuy will rapidly find that the tourist activities are centred around the square Plaza Belgrano. There you will find the Government House and the Town Hall, which currently is the headquarters of the Provincial Police, as well as the Cathedral.

The main street of Belgrano and many of its side streets are pedestrian walkways and the centre of attraction due to its many shops as and several old colonial buildings. Walking down this street until you reach the corner of Lavalle St you will find the People's Library, the San Francisco Church, and the house where General Lavalle was murdered in 1841, today the seat of the History Museum of the Province.

Going towards the Río Grande River, you will find art festivals and other cultural activities being held in the former railway station. Further on you will find the Handicrafts Fair, where many artisans offer their products crafted in different materials.

The most outstanding and much-loved Fiesta of San Salvador de Jujuy is the Carnival with its very native overtones. Other traditional festivals of this city are the Manca Fiesta, in La Quiaca, and El Toreo de la Vincha, in Casabindo.

Those travellers that visit Jujuy during Christmas will have the opportunity to enjoy its traditional aspects, such as the typical Nativity scenes, the singing of Christmas carols, the old Ribbon Dance or the Winding and Unwinding Game, where children running at cross directions around a pole, each holding on to the end of a long gaily coloured ribbon all stuck on top of the pole, will first "dress" the pole with the ribbons and later on running in opposite directions will unwind the ribbons. A sight that is absolutely full of live tradition, warmth and colour.

On August 23rd every year, and during the following week the people of Jujuy evoke the Exodus, when on July 28th, 1812, during the war for Independence, all the people of Jujuy followed General Belgrano into a retreat in front of the triumphant Spanish Crown armies, leaving only scorched earth behind.

Between September 17th and 23rd, the city covers itself in laughter and youth. It is the month when the students in all the different colleges, schools and Departmental institutions make feasts and elect their representatives to take part in the National and Latin American pageant for the title of the Queen of Students.

During religious celebrations, the locals will come down from the mountains to take part in processions, always accompanied by local music on typical instruments.

The expansion the city has undergone in modern times into the surrounding hills has made it into an interesting mix of modernity with an old colonial centre.