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Salta, beautiful by nature - compliments of the Ministerio de Turismo de Salta

The Province of Salta is situated in the Northwest of Argentina and it borders three countries: Chile , Bolivia and Paraguay , and six Argentinian provinces: Jujuy , Formosa , Chaco, Santiago del Estero , Tucumán and Catamarca.

Salta stands out for its geographic and climatic heterogeneity, from the desert coldness of the Andes and the Puna to the subtropical heat of the jungle, with cool fertile valleys, mountains and rivers in between.

Salta 's traditional hospitality and provincial cordiality blend with its great cultural richness. Its heritage is vast and varied: ancient Diaguita-Calchaqui and Inca vestiges, the more recent Spanish colonial legacy and its active involvement in the independence wars. These features are still alive in the architecture of its villages, towns and in the city of Salta itself.

The first people to live in this area were aware of its outstanding natural beauty and called it "SAGTA", which in the Aymara language means "very beautiful one". Even today Salta is known as "the pretty one".

ABOUT THE CITY OF SALTA
The city of Salta was founded in 1582 and it still bears a distinct Hispanic character that sets it apart from other cities in the country. The skyline is drawn by colonial houses, narrow streets and pavements, and the brownish green of the surrounding hills. This cordial and hospitable city feels proud of its historic heritage and it offers tourists a wide range of cultural events and entertainment.

When sightseeing around the city, you must visit the main square (Plaza 9 de Julio), the Cathedral and the old city halL (the Cabildo). Nearby you will find the San Francisco Church and the San Bernardo Convent, with a carved door that dates to the year 1762. Other places of interest are the Uriburu Museum, the Hernández and the Arias Rengel houses and the Güemes and 20 de Febrero Monuments. Tourists can walk down the streets around the main square, take in the fresh air and have a drink in one of the cafes. The cobbled streets are a tribute to older times when this area of town was the centre of its political, economical and social life. You can also take the cable car and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city from San Bernardo hill, and then buy crafts at the Mercado Artesanal, an old ranch turned into a shopping area.

An active and lively cultural life
The special history of Salta encouraged the developing of a rich cultural life, inspired also by the beauty and diversity of the nature
Salta has an active cultural life. Its cinemas, theatres and “peñas” offer a wide variety of shows and performances. Many of these events take place at Casa de la Cultura, Caseros 460. This art centre also houses Salta’s Symphonic Orchestra, which has gained international acclaim and which offers weekly performances.
There are interesting museums to visit: The Contemporary Art Museum that was opened earlier last year and exhibits works from local artists, or Museums such us the Cabildo, Uriburu Museum, the Hernández and the Arias Rengel houses that keeps alive historic ways of life, and historic monuments like Güemes and 20 de Febrero Monuments that commemorate heroes and facts of the independence war.

Religious Tourism
Salta is cradle of faith. The Cathedral is also the Sanctuary for the Señor and Virgen del Milagro, patrons of Salta, whose procession is celebrated every September 15.

The night life
Nightlife in Salta is lively, varied and safe. Salteños and tourists alike meet in peñas, pubs, cafes, casinos and discos. Most of this activity is concentrated in the area around the train station, known as “La Balcarce”. At the weekends there is a crafts street market where tourists can buy different traditional handmade products.

Music, gastronomy and shoppings
Salta is famous for its folk music and many renowned artists were born here and sing its praises in typical “zambas” and “chacareras”. Salteñan cuisine is varied and multi-coloured. Visitors can taste traditional “empanadas”, “locro” and “humitas”, as well as enjoy modern dishes made with local products such as corn, llama meat, quinoa, trout and pejerrey. The wines from the Calchaqui Valleys are also smooth the visitors’ palate. The city is the exhibition centre of the whole handicrafts production of the Province. The Mercado Artesanal, an old ranch turned into a shopping area, worth a visit for those who wish to buy and see crafts done by local hands. Also the shops near the main square or the ones in the crafts street market in Calle Balcarce offer assorted options and objects.

LEGACY OF ANCIENT CULTURES
In ancient times different people lived in the area that makes up the province of Salta. Towards 1000 BC primitive farmers and herdsmen became the first inhabitants of the region. A very important group came from the Andes: they were skilled farmers and settled in the high valleys and in Puna. Later on, these people were known as belonging to the Diaguita - Calchaqui culture.
In the 15th century the area was conquered by the Incas and it became part of the Collasuyo, one of the four regions that made up the great Inca Empire of Tahuantisuyo. The Inca culture had a great influence on the people and the Quechua language prevailed.

In the 16th century the Spaniards colonized the territory and a process of cultural exchange and mixing began. Salta kept strong economic, social and cultural links with the cities of Potosí, Sucre, La Paz and Lima, with which it shared architectural and artistic features as well as customs and traditions. This connection can still be seen today in the different celebrations, traditions, dishes, rhythms, museums and churches.

The inca trail:
The area of the Calchaqui Valleys and the Puna is crisscrossed by an impressive network of Inca trails. The winding paved paths through the mountains made up the vast communication system of the Inca Empire. Many of these trails lead to sanctuaries on the mountain tops and go through breathtaking landscapes.

The “Niños del Llullaillaco”
In 1999, one of the highest Inca sanctuaries was found in the summit of Mount Llullaillaco, at 6739 metres over sea level.
The sanctuary had remained undiscovered for over five centuries and it sheltered the frozen bodies of children offered as a sacrifice to the gods. It is a very important High Mountain Sanctuary where Incas used to make offers in a ritual celebration known as “Capacocha”
Today this marvellous discovery is conserved, investigated and presented in the High Mountain Archaeological Museum (MAAM) in the City of Salta where people is be able to appreciate, understand and value these remains of the Inca culture.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
The archaeological remains found in Salta bear testimony to the ancient traces of these lands. Centuries later, with the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, two races were mixed and the identity of the people of the area began to take shape.
Traditional customs, religious celebrations, pagan rites and everyday habits follow this Indian-Hispanic pattern, which has led to a mixed-race culture that gives special charactercter to this part of Argentina.

This becomes evident in the celebration of festivals in the different towns and villages of Salta: the religious aspect combines with the colourful magic of more traditional music and dances; angels in paintings have Indian features; and even today, the variety of handicrafts shows this mixture.
The way of talking, the songs, dances, musical instruments, even the way women and men dress turn salteños into a special kina of people that stand out for its serenity, hospitality and friendliness.

MAAM MUSEUM - High Mountain Archaeology Museum
This museum was opened in Salta in 2004 and it allows visitors to fully understand and appreciate the Inca culture and heritage. The museum is located in the main square and is part of the historic centre. The High Mountain Sanctuary was discovered in 1999 in the Llullaillaco Volcano (above 6739 metres above sea level) in the Andes range. Three children bodies were found there in perfect state of preservation. These children had been offered as sacrifice to the Inca deities along with a fantastic collection of over 100 objects.
Gold and silver statuettes, textiles and spondyllus are exhibited in the museum today. The interactive exhibition let visitors learn the history, dressings, eating habits and rituals of the Inca people and its influence in the North of Argentina.

GOURMET SALTA
Salteñan cuisine is famous in the country and the world by its original plates and recipes. These tasty and color dishes resemble the magnificence of its landscapes the culture of the northwest of Argentina. Traditional recipes to prepare hearty dishes have been transmitted from mothers to daughters since colonial times. The Spanish influence combines with local products (such as maze, corn and different kinds of potatoes) and tender meat of animals grazed on natural pastures (lamb, kid and llama). This was the origin of the juicy “empanadas” (meat pies) cooked in mud ovens, the “humitas” (made with corn) and the “locro” (a kind of stew).

Typical desserts are also worth mentioning: home-made cakes such as “Pasta Real” filled with cayote jam (cayote is a kind of pumpkin), “leche planchada” made with milk and sugar, “quesillos
con mile de caña” from goat milk with sugarcane syrup, “cuaresmillo” (a kind of fruit) and grape jam. Pastries include “empanadillas de cayote” (cayote pastries), “alfajores de miel” (small cakes made with two flat round cookies filled with syrup) and “colaciones de dulce de leche” (a round cookie filled with a toffee-like cream made with milk and sugar).

HANDICRAFTS
In the pre–Hispanic times inhabitants of distant areas like the desert puna or the tropical forest meet during celebrations to exchange this products and handcrafts.
Lots of these old techniques were preserved up to these days through generations of craftsmen that also incorporated the Hispanic contributions.

• Textiles:
  In the Puna, llama and sheep wool is knitted or woven in looms. However, the biggest textile production comes from the valleys, where loom art has become one of the most important traditions. People weave blankets, quilts, carpets, tapestries, ponchos, sashes, bags, saddle accessories and strong warm fabrics called “picote” and “barracán”. Also in Santa Victoria and Iruya you can find some articles like blankets or “pullos”, ponchos, sashes and saddlebags of bright colours.
  In the north and east of the province, people have been working the fibres of a local plant called “chaguar” for hundred of years. They produce beautiful items like bags and carpets.
• Basketwork:
  In the south of the Calchaqui valleys people make baskets from the fibres of local plants like “poleo” and “simbol”.
• Ceramics:
  the most important production is found in Cachi, Cafayate and San Carlos and it comes from ancient aboriginal times.
• Wood carving:
  it is very important in the north of the province where wood and forests are abundant. The Wichi people use different kinds of local woods like “palo santo”, “guayacán”, “quebracho” and “mistol”.
• Leather, horn and silver articles:
  these crafts are related to the gaucho tradition and life in the country. They are found around the province.