CitySaltaValle de Lerma
Salta
The colonial capital of Salta province — arcaded plazas, ornate churches and folk music late into the night. The natural starting point for the whole Northwest.
Photo: fabulousfabs, CC BY 2.0
Founded in 1582, Salta is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Argentina, and its nickname — Salta la Linda, Salta the beautiful — is earned around Plaza 9 de Julio. On one side stands the Cathedral, on another the arcaded Cabildo, the old colonial town hall.
What to see
Across the square, the Museum of High Mountain Archaeology tells the story of Inca ritual on the summits of the Andes, including the remarkably preserved children found on Volcán Llullaillaco. Two blocks away, the bell tower of the Church of San Francisco is the city’s landmark.
For the view, take the cable car — or the long stairway — up Cerro San Bernardo, where the city spreads across the Lerma Valley below.
In the evening
Salta takes its folk music seriously. Spend an evening at a peña, where zambas and chacareras play over empanadas, tamales and local wine.
Highlights
- Plaza 9 de Julio, the Cathedral and the Cabildo
- The Museum of High Mountain Archaeology (MAAM)
- Cerro San Bernardo by cable car or on foot
- Live folk music at a peña
