Córdoba, Argentina

Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains on the Suquía River, about 700 km west-northwest from Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. As of 2006 Córdoba has an estimated population of over 1,300,000 inhabitants, making it Argentina's second-largest city. It is a major industrial center, but retains many of its historical buildings dating from the colonial era.

Barrios

The Centro (Spanish for "downtown") is the most important commercial area, with clothes, food, hardware, fishing equipment, shoes, computer shops, etc., as well as the most important banks like Bank of Córdoba and other private banking institutions. There's also a variety of restaurants with varying food and prices, from McDonalds to Italian pasta or, in a typical Argentine restaurant, asado barbecue. Sightseeing places include San Martín square, Jesuit Block (declared UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Genaro Perez Museum. Main avenues and streets are Humberto Primo, Colón Avenue, General Paz, Dean Funes and 27 de Abril where most buses have a bus-stop.

Urca is the second most important district after Cerro de las Rosas. It is an upper class district. There is a supermarket called Super Urca that has been there for a long time. Urca has many clothing stores and restaurants. The local church, Maria Madre del Redentor is situated on the river bank of the Suquia River. Urca's main avenues are Emilio Lamarca and Menendez Pidal.

Cerro de las Rosas is a very large district. It is known for its famous restaurants like El Bodegón de Argüello, Rancho Grande, Restorante Italiano and Il Gatto. There are also various retail shops which sell clothing, food and sports equipment in the area. This is a traditional neighbourhood where the oldest houses in the area are located, as well as some schools like Juan Zorrilla de San Martin, Padre Claret, Zubiría and Fader. There are also pubs and disco clubs where young people go out at night. The most important avenue is Rafael Nuñez.

Nueva Córdoba is the largest district in the area. It is home to shopping malls like Patio Olmos, big buildings, pubs, disco clubs, squares, restaurants, supermarkets and other entertainment and commercial centres. This district includes a very important building, set in a corner of Hipólito Yrigoyen street, called Ecipsa Tower, where many major companies have their offices. An important cultural place is Palacio Ferreyra, located at the corner of Hipólito Yrigoyen and Chacabuco. Nueva Cordoba has a number of important avenues like Yrigoyen and Velez Sarsfield.

The Ciudad Universitaria (Spanish for "University Campus") district is located in the south area of the city, next to the Parque Sarmiento park. The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba has most of its faculties in this area. Another important university, the UTN, dedicated to the teaching of engineering sciences, is located in this part of the city. There are also a gym and football stadium and tennis courts for the students. The Córdoba Zoo is located in the district.

Argüello is located about 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) from Cerro de Las Rosas. It is famous for its well-known high schools such as Colegio Aleman, Academia Argüello, La Salle and Colegio del Carmen. Over the last decade, this neighborhood has experienced steady growth. Especially in the area of Barrio La Carolina, where private country communities such as Las Delicias and Lomas de La Carolina have hosted important celebrities and government officials such as former Argentinean President Carlos Menem and basketball legend Marcelo Milanesio from Asociación Deportiva Atenas.

History

Córdoba was founded in 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, who named it after Córdoba, Spain. It was one the first Spanish colonial capitals of the region that is now Argentina (older cities were Buenos Aires, founded in 1536; and Santiago del Estero, founded in 1553). The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba is the oldest university in South America. It was founded in 1613 by the Jesuit Order.

After the end of World War II, Córdoba became a major centre for the Argentine aircraft industry, and the site of Argentina's military aeroplane factory, Fábrica Militar de Aviones.

The Argentine government offered positions to German technicians from the Focke Wulf company at its aerotechnical institute, the Instituto Aerotécnico in Córdoba. Many moved there in 1947.

The Instituto Aerotécnico later became the Fábrica Militar de Aviones. It employed the Focke Wulf men until President Juan Perón was ousted by a coup in 1955. Lockheed Martin purchased FMA in the late 1990s.

Córdoba has many historical monuments preserved from the times of Spanish colonialism, especially buildings of the Roman Catholic Church. The most recognizable is perhaps the Jesuit Block (Spanish: Manzana Jesuítica), declared in 2000 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO ^*. It is a block of buildings dating from the 17th century, including the Montserrat School, the University (today the historical museum of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba) and the church of the Society of Jesus.

Economy

Since World War II, Córdoba has been developing a versatile industrial base. The biggest sectors are car manufacturing (Renault, Volkswagen, Fiat), railway construction (Materfer) and aircraft construction (Fábrica Militar de Aviones, currently shared between the government and Lockheed Martin). Furthermore there are textile, heavy and chemical industry and some agrobusiness.

Córdoba has been considered the technological centre of Argentina. The Argentinian spaceport (Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera) in the suburb Falda del Cañete, where satellites are being constructed and operated is located in the area. The software (Motorola, Vates) and electronic industries are advancing and exporting more and more goods.

Sports

Soccer, like in the rest of Argentina, is the most popular sport. Several leagues and divisions dispute in the local championship annually. Some important teams are Instituto, Talleres, Belgrano, Racing de Córdoba, General Paz Juniors and Huracán de Barrio La France.

Basketball could arguably be the second most popular sport in Córdoba city. Asociación Deportiva Atenas is the most popular club, and one of the most successful in Argentina, having won the National League (LNB) seven times, and being three times winner of the Sudamerican League.

Rugby is also a very popular sport in the city of Córdoba, which has close to 20 teams with many divisions. Tala Rugby Club, Tablada, Jockey Club, Athletic, Palermo Bajo and Universitario are some of the most prestigious teams.

The Argentine stage of the World Rally Championship has been run not far from the city since 2004. Hockey, tennis, golf and karting are also important sports in Córdoba.

Culture

Literature

Córdoba has long been considered one of the most cultural cities of Argentina. Literary activity flourished in the city at the beginning of the last century. Córdoba was the city of Leopoldo Lugones, Arturo Capdevila and Marcos Aginis, among other many prestigious writers.

Music

The typical music in Córdoba is the cuarteto. It can be heard in many parties and pubs. The most popular cuarteto singers are: Carlos Mona Jiménez, La Barra and Jean Carlos. The places they usually sing are named bailes (dances). One of the first groups was Cuarteto de Oro .

Monuments

Córdoba has many historical monuments left over from the colonial era. In the centre, at the Plaza San Martín square, is the Jesuit Cathedral, whose altar is made of stone and silver from Potosí. Every ornament inside is made of gold and the roof is all painted with different images from the Bible. Another important building is the Cabildo (colonial government house), located next to the church. The Jesuit Block, the Monserrat School, the University and the church of the Society of Jesus are located in Córdoba.

Festivals

Different festivals occur year-round. The first is in February, the Carnaval, where children enjoy throwing water-bombs at people on the street.

Then in the middle of the year, on July 20, Friend Day is celebrated. Usually, most of the teenagers meet at Parque de las Naciones or Parque Sarmiento and spend the afternoon there. At night, they go dancing to different places, and enjoy a drink.

The last festival is Spring Day, held on September 21. Many go to the park or spend the day in the nearby city of Villa Carlos Paz. There they can enjoy lots of activities like concerts, dancing, going down town or visiting the river bank.

Theatres

Teatro el Libertador
Teatro Comedia
Teatro San Martín
Teatro Colón

Night life

There are many discos and places to have fun in different areas of Córdoba.

North zone: Factory, Hill Rose, Meet, Septimo, Infierno, Container, Nodo, Carreras, Lokitas, Sephia, Candem, etc.
Nueva Cordoba: Alquimia, La Quema, La Morada, La barra, La Coqueta, La Osa Disco, Mitre, etc.
Dark zone: Casa Babylon, Punta Alvear, Hangar 18 (a gay bar, now closed), El bebedero, Moscú, Vilaro, La Jungla, Gabana, Oxi, El Ojo Bizarro.

References

Municipality of Córdoba - Official website.
Guide of Córdoba (especially for culture and nightlife)
La Voz del Interior - Córdoba's most important newspaper
University of Córdoba
Universidad Tecnologica Nacional - Facultad Regional Cordoba

Cities in Córdoba Province (Argentina) | Capitals of Argentine provinces | 1573 establishments | World Heritage Sites in Argentina

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