THE CITY

At the feet of the Sierras Grandes Highlands over the shores of Chorrillos River the simple and amiable City of San Luis offers a vast tourist repertoire to the traveller. It is in the extremity called Punta de los Venados - therefore "Puntanos" is the name given to its inhabitants.

It was founded on August 25th, 1594 by Luis Jufré de Loaysa y Meneses, and rewarded with the name of San Luis de Loyola Nueva Medina del Río Seco. San Luis was named in honour to the King of France, Loyola for Don Martín Oñez de Loyola, General Captain of Chile and Nueva Medina, as reminiscence of the birthplace of its founder.

After more than four centuries, the City still preserves the urban equilibrium between the big old houses or big old typical houses in colonial style with their ample patios, and the modern buildings in the commercial zone.

The City of San Luis is the entrance door to Cuyo, from where there are a great number of routes to different localities, such as Mendoza, San Juan and San Rafael, from where other possible destinies appear, too; for example to the border with the Republic of Chile reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Thereby, this City is transformed into a transition place with diverse localities and also becomes a transition towards different landscapes, regional cultures and traditions of Argentina.

A first impression can deceive the wits of the traveller, but if he takes a little time to taste each of the corners of the city, he will discover a delicious provincial intimacy with surroundings full of moist orchards and perfumed fruit trees.

The most important changes took place during the last third part of the 19th century with the arrival of the railway and immigrants. With them it was also built the Cathedral Church, two schools that made history and lots of commercial stores and Italian styled houses.

The City has hotels, restaurants, a river beach resort and all the basic services for the traveller. The tourist can take a walk starting from the Plaza Pringles Square, a stroll among very old groves whose name recalls a hero of San Luis that fought with the Liberation Army.