PLACES TO VISIT

The Park Hyatt Hotel & Regency Casino Mendoza
Until 1999 the luxurious Plaza Hotel functioned in this place. On that date the hotel was purchased by Hyatt, the international American hotel chain. It was remodelled, but its original façade was kept and restored: it is a colonial structure from the XIXth century.

All the rooms have a view of the Cordillera de los Andes or of a beautiful garden. It has an elegant restaurant called Bistro M, with an outdoor terrace and a view of the Independencia Square. It offers a spectacular open kitchen with wood burning ovens, and a wine cellar of over 2,500 varieties of Mendoza wine.

The Regency's Casino Mendoza, on the other hand, is an elegant European style casino that combines sophistication and entertainment in one place with comfortable preferential tables for big bets. They have state of the art slot machines, and playing tables with roulettes, blackjack and Caribbean poker. It stands on Chile N° 1124, on the same street and a few meeters away from Colegio Nacional Agustin Alvarez.

Italia Square
Not far from the Plaza Independencia Sq, it is a part of the new town designed in 1863 and is surrounded by Peru, Montevideo, 25 de Mayo and San Lorenzo Sts. It lodges different works of art such as the Roman she-wolf.

The central fountain that decorates the square is covered by almost 1,450 ceramic tiles inspired by the floor of San Petronio's Cathedral in Bologna. Around it there are monuments, statues and friezes with mythical motifs.

Before the celebration of the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Wine Festival), the Festa in Piazza Festivity takes place, organized by the Italian Club. In one of the corners there is a playground for children. It is more attractive during spring, thanks to its leafy trees.

Pasado Cuyano Historical Museum - Dr. Edmundo Correa
It is an old house of Italian style built in 1873. It still keeps the original ceilings, walls and wooden floors, and keeps a collection of historical documents and furniture of the XIX and XX centuries.

In the different halls there is a portrait of San Martin and a replica of the curved sword of the Argentinean hero. There is also an important collection of religious works of art together with an interesting arms collection. The Mendoza Historical Studies Association and its History Library also function on this site. It stands on Montevideo N° 544. It has been declared a National Historical Monument.

Chile Square
It is also rather close to the Independencia Square. It has changed names many times since its construction in 1863, until it received its current name in 1920 as homage to a nation that offered assistance to the victims of the 1861 earthquake.

It is surrounded by Peru, Necochea, 25 de Mayo and Nicolas Avellaneda streets, and is embellished with a water fountain. The central sculpture, on a granitic block weighing several tons, represents heroes San Martin and O'Higgins, and symbolizes the friendship between Argentina and Chile.

It is in a residential area, and the old aguaribay hardwood and eucalyptus trees provide it with unique features.

España Square.
It was first called Plaza Montevideo, then Carlos Pellegrini, and finally Plaza España. It is rather close to the Independencia Square. In the year 1946 the Monumento a la Confraternidad Hispano-Argentina was erected.

It is one of the most visited squares by the traveller who visits Mendoza. We can observe its ceramic tiles and shining floors, its Andalusian patio, its wrought iron street lamps, its central fountain and the abundant trees around it.

It is surrounded by the following streets: Montevideo, España, San Lorenzo and 9 De Julio Streets.

The First Earthquake Proof House
As the subtitle indicates, it was the first earthquake proof house built in Mendoza city. It has a colonial design, and two storeys. It was a private residence and today we find there the Colon Coffee House on the ground floor and offices on the second floor. It is on the intersection of San Martin Av and Necochea.

The Basilica and the San Francisco Convent
It is the oldest church of the new city. Its construction dates back to the year 1875. The main altar holds the original image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Cuyo, Patron and General of the Ejército de los Andes by an initiative of General San Martin, next to the hero's Commanding Baton, and other relics of the Campaña Libertadora campaign, both rescued from the ruins of San Francisco church.

The interior consists of three naves and the small chamber where the image of the Virgen del Carmen lies. It has a Renaissance style. It is inspired in the famous Trinity church in Paris, France. It has been declared a National Historical Monument. It is a few feet away from Plaza San Martin square, on the intersection of Necochea St and España Av.

The Former Banco Hipotecario (Mortgage Bank) It is a Spanish Renaissance style building inaugurated in 1929 on the intersection of Gutierrez and España .. Since 2001 the Subsecretaria de Cultura de Mendoza has begun functioning on this site. Its octagonal facade shows an extraordinary ornamentation. The vaulted hall and classic Spanish ceramic tiles stand out.

Central Market and the Popular Museo Callejero
It offers the typical products of the Mendoza countryside. Besides, along Avenida Las Heras we will find shops offering regional articles and many small stores that sell all kinds of souvenirs. It is on Las Heras Ave., between Patricias Mendocinas St. and.España Av.

The Museo Popular Callejero is on Avenida Las Heras., between Peru and 25 de Mayo St. The origin of this outdoor museum is the general desire to recreate the history of this avenue, which played an important role in the evolution of the city.

San Martin Square.

The Centro Cívico zone
It is an area projected to the south of the new city's central zone in 1948. It is a quiet walkway surrounded by important neo-Classical buildings and monuments mostly erected by the government administration.

The Barrio Cívico includes the Casa de Gobierno (Government House), the Palacio de Justicia (Justice Building), the Tribunales Federales (Federal Courthouse), the Police Headquarters, the Customs Building, the Wine Museum, School of Fine Arts and the modern Congress Centre and Exhibitions Centre Emilio Civit as the most outstanding buildings.

Government House - Flag Hall
The central body of the building is classical and rationalist, with an dazzling colossal staircase. A charming ceiling spar joins it to the sidewalls. We can see a regional element on the roof: colonial roof-tiles.

On the ground floor we can see the flag of the Andes army, which was embroidered by the Patricias Mendocinas and nuns of the Compañía de Maria in 1816, as envisioned by General don Jose de San Martin. This original cloth survived the wars of independence from the Spanish crown, since it was rescued from the ruins of what is now called Ruinas de San Francisco. It is the oldest kept in the country and is guarded by the "General Las Heras" Infantry Regiment, from the area of Tupungato.

Mendoza's Town Hall - The Terraza Jardin Mirador
It. It is the Palacio Municipal, a modern architectonic complex inaugurated in 1969, but we can also find there the Legislative body. At thirty meters high, on the last floor, is the Terraza Jardin Mirador, where you can get a panoramic view of the city. It is a beautiful cultivated rooftop garden, with bushes and colourful flowers that decorate approximately thirty small plots. In the area we can also find a panoramic telescope that lets us see the city outskirts up to a fifty-kilometre radius.

Congress and Exhibition Centre
It is a modern centre that consists of a group of halls of all sizes. The group is complemented with an auditorium for 2,000 assistants provided with advanced technology. It has all that is necessary to carry out conventions. It was inaugurated in year 1978 near the Palacio Policial, the Aduana and the Museo del Vino. It is in the corner of Avenidas Peltier and Carmen de Cuyo avenues.