PLACES TO VISIT IN THE CITY

Plaza Pringles - Pringles Square
(Rivadavia, Junin, San Martín, Pringles)
During the last years of the 19th century the place where there is now this square was then called "Potrero de Reyramos". Some decades later it becomes into the current historical "Pringles Park", also known as "Plaza de las Flores" or "The Square of Flowers". At the beginning, it was all surrounded with forged iron fences and masonry provided with beautiful doors in each corner and in the middle of its sides. The pillars that supported these doors where toppled by flowerpots that, according to the old stories heard up to now, were decorated with plants and flowers. The "pimientos" aguaribay "peppers", that bring a distinctive look to the Square, were planted in 1883.
The Square was remodelled in 1994; a raised platform provides an ascending sensation towards the centre, where the monument of the Coronel Juan Pascual Pringles rises.

It was inaugurated in 1917 and made by the sculptor Rafael Radogna. Moreover, the inside paths are illuminated by cast iron ornamental streetlights very similar to the old ones, and the fountains increase with their foamy jets on the corners embellishing the whole City.

The Cathedral
The "Independencia de las Provincias Unidas" (Independence of the United Provinces) oath took place during the early 19th century in a house where it is now the Cathedral Church of San Luis. It was owned to Don Tomas Lucio Osorio who donned it to serve as private residence of an officer called Don Vicente Dupuy, who had been appointed by the General San Martín itself.

Its construction began in 1883 and finished in 1909. The original plan was made by the engineer Pedro Lussetti, also author of the plans of El Salvador Church in Buenos Aires.

The neo-classical facade supported by Corinthian columns shows a triangular frontispiece with bass relief scenes of King Saint Louis' life. The Church bears two twin towers. In the back there is one hemi-spherical dome. The principal nave includes lateral chapels and detains beautiful stained glass windows.

Over by the right side nave lie the remains of Coronel Juan Pascual Pringles. There can be also found the tomb of the first Bishop of San Luis, Monsignor Pedro Tibiletti among other religious characters.

Inside the church there are also some notable works in gypsum and applications in marble and granite from San Luis, the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, mural paintings, and the frontispiece that commemorates the life and deeds of the patron Saint Louis, King of France.

It was declared National Historical site in 1975. It's in the crossroads of Rivadavia and Pringles Steets.

Ex-Estación del Ferrocarril - Former Railway Station
The railway arrived in San Luis in 1882. The first line was called Ferrocarril Andino or Andean Railway, and then it became into the Ferrocarril del Gran Oeste Argentino or Railway of the Great West of Argentina. On March 15th, 1903 the new building of the station was inaugurated (the former construction was located where there is now the Rector office of the National University of San Luis), thus its name changed for Ferrocarril de Buenos Aires al Pacífico or Railway of Buenos Aires to the Pacific Ocean.

The building is one of the patrimonies of the Province most cherished by all the "Puntanos". Its well-proportioned design resembles a French palatial mansion, while the functional areas belong to the utilitarian architecture in iron that the British used so profusely around the world during the Industrial Revolution and on. A large gallery supported by eleven steel columns roofs the slab stone paved platform.

Lafinur and President Ilia

Avenida Presidente Ilia - President Ilia Avenue
Remodelled and revaluated in the year of 1993, this handsome diagonal Avenue was built in the late 19th century to connect the new railroad station with the centre of the City. In its beginnings it was called Quintana Avenue to honour the President, who visited the City and made the arrangements to definitively finish the construction of the station building.

With the time its name changed and was then called Eva Perón, whose statue is located at the Eastern end of the avenue. It actually bears the name of Dr. Arturo Ilia, former President of Argentina. This statue reminisce him and it is located in the vicinity of Caseros Street.

Along all the avenue, 31 traditional ornamental streetlights remembers the old original Republican design, in contrast with the modern buildings and the street walks with white slab stones and black slate (traditional production of San Luis).

San Martín and Lafinur.

Escuela Centro Educativo N° 1 Lafinur - School N° 1 Lafinur
On May 22nd, 1882 was created the first Educative Commission in the Province with the presence of the " Educacional Interventor " in San Luis, Don José Hernandez, author of the famous and great literature work "Martín Fierro". This commission proposed the creation of a permanent fund in order to create new schools. Thus, "Escuela Graduada" was created. In 1888 it received the name of "Lafinur" and on August 16th, 1907 the actual building was inaugurated with its harmonizing Italian lines. The building has been recently revaluated and declared "Bien de Pertenencia al Patrimonio Provincial" (Good belong to Provincial Patrimony).

It is located in the crossroads of Rivadavia, Bolivar, Chacabuco and Lavalle.

Ex Colegio Nacional Juan Crisóstomo Lafinur - Former National School Juan Crisóstomo Lafinur
This is one of the most important architectonical exponents of the City. It was built in 1869. Its interior, which can only be visited having a permit, shows a large patio framed by galleries and classrooms. The Hall of Acts, sober and with good acoustics, and the vestibule are the greatest. During the Presidency of Dr. Marcelo T. de Alvear it was given the name of Juan Crisóstomo Lafinur, a "Puntano" that distinguished himself as a poet, musician and journalist. The building was restored in 1994 and declared "Bien de Pertenencia al Patrimonio Provincial" (Good belong to Provincial Patrimony).
Located between San Martín and Junín St.