GRAN MENDOZA

GUAYMALLEN

To the west of the City of Mendoza, just separated by a canal, we find the city of Guaymallen, a place that has kept its original native name and has a flat surface for most of its territory.

With almost 125,000 inhabitants, Guaymallen was born as an arrival and departure point in all directions, ¡and still remains so! It is the crossroads for the main international and provincial routes.

Although it was mainly an agricultural town, Guaymallen has succeeded in developing through the years a variety of industrial activities, especially in the transformation and canning or bottling of the produce from its vineyards, olives and fruit trees.

As a consequence, there has been a boom in the construction of residential neighborhoods and shopping malls that have changed it into one of the cities with the most commercial and industrial activity in the Mendoza Province.

Agricultural fields are located east of town. In that area we also find el "Predio de la Virgen" and "Juan Domingo Peron Park", recreational spaces for Mendoza citizens and visitors who wish to enjoy nature or relax watching a show.

In the south there is also a park 250,000 square ms large and important residential centers and natural areas.

Another places of interest in the department are the General Belgrano Train Station, which joins the province with the north of Argentina, and the Bus Terminal, called Terminal del Sol, on the border of the Capital City.

Molina Pico Museum
Since the XVIII century, Guaymallen was the place elected by Mendoza landowners to build their gorgeous family houses. This particular house was built in 1785 and was destroyed by the big earthquake. It belonged to the Molina Pico family and is made of adobe with a mud and reeds roof. It has galleries, big-sized rooms, yards and gardens. General San Martin stayed there and it is now a museum. Guided tours are carried out from Monday to Friday. It is on 747,Paroissiens Street.

LUJAN DE CUYO
At 18 kms south of the City of Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo is a town which for many years was an required step on the way to the south or west of the province. At the present time it is a place with a privileged boom in agricultural, cattle raising, mining and industry.

In its territory we find changeable landscapes. From the high mountain to an extensive plain crossed by rough areas modified by man's work. Its located on the river valley. Its benign microclimate has allowed an extensive part of the land to become a place for weekend houses and summer residences.

It has one of the nicest squares in Mendoza. Full of trees and colorful flowers, it still keeps a small town spirit. Surrounding it are the civic, religious and commercial center of the city.

The town has many ore furnaces and hydroelectric works next to the river, as well as an important YPF oil refinery. The first oil exploitation in Latin America and the first oil duct were constructed in Lujan de Cuyo.

Among its tourist attractions, we can mention the Valle de Potrerillos, a small valley with ski tracks, Cacheuta with its hot springs, and the El Carrizal Dam (a water mirror shared with Rivadavia) which transforms into an ideal scenery to practice water sports.

One of its districts, Perdriel, has become very notorious in recent years because so many celebrations and traditional festivals are carried out there. They have even built a fair grounds where hundreds of visitors gather to celebrate the Dia de la Tradicion (Day of Traditon) , the "Feriagro Lujan", an agricultural and cattle exposition, and the grape harvest and winemaking celebrations that lasts several weeks every year.

Mendoza has countless large houses, big Estancia cattle farms and smaller Fincas or vineyards dedicated to the production of quality wine. In this area is where the "Caminos del Vino" becomes more important. The traveller will easily learn about the history, the culture and the idiosyncrasy of Mendoza citizens, and get in touch with the owners of the old houses in the area.

The world famous "Bodega Chandon" Winery stands out for its exquisite sparkling wine. It was the first branch outside France, because in the French comopany considered that the soil and climate of this place were ideal to obtain grapes with great aromatic concentration, body and taste.

Lujan de Cuyo shares with the Las Heras Department the high valley of the Mendoza River, a fact that will allow the traveller to enjoy snow and practice winter sports. The traveller may also participate in extraordinary walks and wonderful horse-riding tours, or he may practice sport fishing and photographic safaris.

The Parroquia de la Virgen de la Carrodilla
In the year 1778 don Antonio Solanilla left his native Huesca, Spain, to establish himself in Mendoza, and among his personal belongings he brought an image of the Virgin Mary on a farm cart. The Virgin had the baby Jesus in one hand, and grapes in the other hand. In the XX century she became the Heavenly Patron of Vineyards.

Solanilla built her a chapel near his home, and in 1840 his daughter Agustina and the Pleitel family enlarged it. In 1955 it was handed out to the Misioneros Oblatos de la Inmaculada Gray to have it restored and decorated as a National Historical Monument. It is on the intersection of Carril Cervantes and Carrodilla Sts.

The Pulperia El Rancho Pub
Across from the Iglesia de la Corrodilla, we find a picturesque pulperia (sort of locall pub) named El Rancho. In that place the traveller can buy interesting handcraft and taste home made meat (empanadas) fried pastries, characteristically very juicy, with a delicious glass of red wine. In autumn and winter the warmth from a fireplace placed in the middle of the establishment will invite us to stay there for a long time. Its olives and garlic pastas are very recommended.

Chacras de Coria
It is a summer district which we may reach easily a couple of kms south of Lujan de Cuyo. Its fine country houses alternate with vineyards and olive groves. It is a residential neighborhood abundant with nightlife, and with a cozy square.

It was owned by Don Juan de Coria y Bohorquez in the XVI century. He channelled the river and planted the first trees brought to the area from the Iberian Peninsula.

The square remains in the town centre as a splendid corner full of native vegetation, and where traditional open air concerts are carried out in the evenings. Across the street we can see the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro.

The Cipoletti Dam
This great water spillways is a fundamental part of the irrigation that allowed for the development of Lujan del Cuyo, taking its name from engineer Cesar Cipoletti, who built it in the year 1880.

The use of the Mendoza River waters in artificial irrigation began in pre-Hispanic times with a sluice that was improved during Colonial days and was known as the Spaniards Spillway or Toma de los Españoles. Today it is a National Historical Monument.

The dam receives water in the main canal and from there two branches split off. One of them, known as Cacique Guaymallen, goes to Mendoza forming the fertile oasis of the capital area.

The Casa Fader Museum
In the home of the famous painter Fernando Fader, who lived in Mendoza between 1904 and 1915 are kept the exhibits of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes Emiliano Guiñazu, which was inaugurated in 1951. It shows a permanent collections of paintings, engravings, sculptures and photographs of Argentinean and foreign artists, next to the paintings, drawings and sculptures of the renowned artist, who was born in France. It is on San Martin 3651.