CHICOANA

Pierced in the midst of the Lerma Valley, and surrounded by the enormity of the mountains, Chicoana sleeps a centenarian dream. Its legendary history begins in the year 1535, when the place was known as Quirequire and the Spanish conqueror Diego de Rojas supplied his expedition there.

It is a small and very time-honoured town. Its foundation by Gonzalo de Abreu dates back to the year 1577. It keeps an aroma of other times, with big old mansions and a well-maintained plaza. It is a gaucho town faithful to its traditions.

It is the centre of the tobacco production in the area, and the Fiesta del Tabaco (Tobacco Festivity), on the 1st of August of every year. They also celebrate the Festival del Tamal (Tamale Festival), a traditional dish of Salta that is based upon corn.

When travellers arrive, they see two buildings at the entrance, with a similar structure, standing at each side of the access road, surrounded by galleries with svelte iron columns.

In the small wooden plaza, bordered by facades of Italian style, stands out the neo-colonial church, with its tower and dome covered with tiles, There is a small, though nice and comfortable, camping area on the outskirts of the town. Among other attractions are, a few kms away, the Escoipe Gorge and the Enchanted Valley.

If travellers decide to come to Chicoana, they should not miss the town's lodging house, standing right before the plaza. A centenarian and warm big old house with very good attention, where they can also hire the services of four wheel drive vehicles for some adventure tourism.

HOW TO GET THERE
It is 47 kms southeast from Salta, going through the Nº 68, National Route, and then taking the Ruta Nacional Nº 33 to the right; or at about 25 kms from the Coronel Moldes locality, going through the Ruta Nacional Nº 68.