Salta la Linda: Argentina's Most Beautiful Colonial City
Salta — called 'Salta la Linda' (Beautiful Salta) — is Argentina's best-preserved colonial city; the pink Cathedral, the colonial arcades, and the Cerro San Bernardo cable car make it the most characterful city in the Argentine northwest
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Plaza 9 de Julio
Salta's Plaza 9 de Julio — with its pink neoclassical cathedral, colonial Cabildo (now the Historical Museum) and flowering trees — is consistently ranked as the most beautiful square in Argentina; the square's human scale, its bougainvillea-covered arcades and the surrounding colonial buildings create an atmosphere that Buenos Aires' larger squares lack
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Pink Cathedral
The Salta Cathedral – painted a distinctive dusty pink – is the most photographed building in northwestern Argentina; the neoclassical facade with two towers, built in the 19th century on the site of a colonial church, frames the Plaza 9 de Julio; the interior houses the colonial images of the Lord of Miracles and the Virgin of Salta, both objects of intense popular devotion
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Cerro San Bernardo
Cerro San Bernardo – rises 1,458 meters above sea level, 200 meters above the city center – reached by cable car from Parque San Martín; the top has the finest panoramic view of Salta, the valley and the surrounding mountains; the cable car (one way journey 10 minutes) is Salta's most popular tourist activity
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Cabildo Museum
The Salta Cabildo – the best-preserved colonial town hall in Argentina – houses the MHSA (Museo Histórico del Norte) with exhibits covering the pre-Columbian, colonial and independence periods of northwestern Argentina; the building's colonial arcade, its central patio and its collection of Andean textiles and colonial religious art are all exceptional
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Northwest Argentine Character
Salta has a character completely separate from Buenos Aires - the Spanish colonial heritage, the Andean indigenous influence, the folklore music (zambas and chacareras), the food (tamales, locro, empanadas saltenas) and the slower pace of life give the city a warmth and authenticity that the capital lacks; Salta is where Argentina's indigenous and colonial heritage is most visible
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Night of Folklore
Saltas peñas (folk music venues) are the finest in Argentina; La Casona del Molino and Balderrama are legendary peñas where live folklore music (zamba, chacarera, vidala) is performed every night for both local audiences and visitors; The Salta peña experience – with its folk music, empanadas and local wine – is the authentic Northwest Argentine night out