Alta Gracia

Information

It is a city of the province of Córdoba in Argentina. It is located about 6 km from Anisacate, 31 km from the city of Córdoba and about 48 km from Villa General Belgrano. It is at the foot of the Sierras Chicas (a mountain chain) and is where the plain that extends eastwards begins. It is crossed by the Chicamtoltina Stream, which originates from other watercourses coming down from the mountains and then flows into the Anisacate River. This stream is surrounded in some sectors by green spaces with picnic areas and cement tables and benches.

It has services for those who visit it, such as tourist information offices, lodging, restaurants, shops, petrol station and cash dispenser. Its central area is located along Belgrano Avenue and its surroundings.

Among the tourist attractions, the Jesuit constructions that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries stand out, since it was a estancia (a ranch) until its expulsion in 1767. Nowadays you can see:
- The museum of the Estancia Jesuítica de Alta Gracia and Casa del Virrey Liniers: it is what used to be the residence where the priests who administered the ranch lived. Later on, in the 19th century, it was acquired by the viceroy Santiago de Liniers, who lived there for a few months.
- El Tajamar: it is right in front of the museum of the estancia. It is an artificial lake that is the oldest reservoir in the province, dating back to the 17th century. It was part of the estancia, and was used for irrigation and for the operation of two mills.
- Primer Paredón and La Hornilla: they are about 3.5 km away from the city centre, already in the outskirts. The Primer Paredón was part of a hydraulic work that contained the water from the stream, which was then channelled by irrigation ditches to El Tajamar. Nowadays, visitors take advantage of a waterfall and a bathing pool there. Very close to this place is La Hornilla, which was a lime kiln used by the Jesuits.

There are other museums to visit. One that stands out is the Municipal Archaeological Museum, which has original pieces from the original peoples of the Paravachasca area. Another one is the museum Casa de Ernesto Che Guevara, which is in one of the houses where Che lived and tells about his family and childhood.

How to get to Alta Gracia:
- By bus: it has a bus terminal where buses arrive from the city of Buenos Aires, the city of Córdoba and Villa Carlos Paz. There is public transportation that stops and connects it with the touristic towns of Paravachasca of Anisacate, La Bolsa and La Serranita.
- By car: at one side of the city runs Provincial Route 5. This road connects it to the north with the city of Córdoba. And to the south it connects it first with the tourist destinations of Paravachasca, such as Anisacate, and later with those of the Calamuchita Valley, such as Villa General Belgrano, Santa Rosa de Calamuchita and Embalse.