 |
 |
|
 |
  |
|
 |
  |
|
  Marcelo Sola |
||
|
Be surprised with the dazzling and picturesque mountain range environment at Merlo and discover its natural and architectural charm, in a tour around the most important sites of this city.
Leaving from the small square Juan de Videla, along Poeta Agüero Street towards Sobremonte, is Antonio Esteban Agüero's house (1), maximum poet of San Luis. It is a large house built in colonial style in the late XIX century. Admittance is free and guided visits are available. It is open everyday from 9am to 12:30pm and from 4pm to 8pm. |
 |
|
Turning right into Marqués de Sobremonte Street, some 200 meters towards the mountain range, the Av. del Sol starts, main artery in the village. In the intersection of Av. del Sol and Av. del Deporte is the Casino Flamingo (2), inaugurated in December 2001. In the outside, it has a green area for public walks.
Returning to the Av. del Sol, is the Palmira Scrosoppi Museum(3), artisans and plastic artists exposition. This avenue ends in the intersection with Av. Dos Venados. Turning left, you must go along one hundred meters, then turn right and go up Av. de los Césares, to the El Rincón neighborhood. Some 150 meters, on the right, is the Capilla Santuario de la Medalla Milagrosa (4), which locks a relic of Santa Catalina de Labouré, unique in Latin America. Passing by the Balneario del Rincón, by the waters of the Juan Pérez stream, through a pedestrial path, you can access the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes (5), built by don Miguel Sgoba, an elderly immigrant who built the oratory with the help of his wife. |
 |
|
Returning to Av. de los Césares, you can enjoy a magnificent sight of the valley from the Amistad viewpoint(6).
Then, you will come to the intersection with Provincial Route 5, where the Del Molino, Del Rincón or De la Estancia Stream is located (7). Once you wade across it, you will enter the Manejada Municipal Reserve. Always turn left, until you reach Isolina's house, the park ranger. From there, you can hike to the Salto del Tabaquillo, an 18-meter-high cascade, in the company of a qualified guide. The excursion takes approximately three hours. Coming back to the paved road, the path leads to the Del Sol viewpoint or to the ridge called Filo de la Sierra (8), on the border with the Province of Córdoba. From any point on this road, you can catch majestic sights of the village and the Concarán Valley. From there, you must start your way back to reach the El Rincón beach resort(9), where you can enjoy the facilities. |
 |
|
Then go down to Av. de los Césares, and turn right to continue to Piedra Blanca, a residential neighborhood with profuse vegetation located on the homonymous stream, which borders with the province of Córdoba. When you access Piedra Blanca, the paved road will make a 90-degree turn towards the left. If you continue along Av. de los Incas, you will see the chapel of Our Lady of Fatima (10), with sober architecture lines.
This road passes by the Leopoldo Lugones square(11), with ancient trees, where you can have a rest and enjoy the tranquility of the place. A few steps from there, on the left, stands La Galería, tea-house and ideal place for dinner. Continuing towards the West, you can acces the park where the Algarrobo Abuelo (Grandfather Algarrobo) stands(12), a specimen over 800 years old. The proportions of its trunk and tree structure are astounding. Esteban Agüero's family used to own these lands, and the poet immortalized it in his book Las Cantatas del Árbol. Back along Av. Norte to the Barranca Colorada arc, located to the left, is the Parque Recreativo Merlo (13), a site for relaxation, sport and entertainment activities for the entire family. Furthermore, there is a restaurant, where only lunch is served . You can also carry out activities related with the environment. |
 |
|
From there, you will go back to the center of Merlo, the Marqués de Sobremonte Square(14), the place where the village was founded on January 1st, 1797. In the very center of the square, you can see the reconstruction of the ancient community well (15), which used to provide water to the neighbors.
Crossing the square diagonally, on the Presbítero Becerra Street, is the Nuestra Sra. del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) church, National Historical Monument, built before the village was found (in 1730 approximately). After walking for half a block towards the South along the same street, you will find the pedestrian entrance to the Paseo de los Artesanos (Artisan Fair) (16), in the old station. |
 |
| To end this ride, in the winter time, we recommend to have a swim in the indoor swimming-pool of the Complejo Educativo Santiago Besso (17), located on Pedernera and Cerro de las Ovejas, 200 meters from Av. del Sol. This resort also has an important auditorium, stage for multiple cultural activities. |
 |
See also: Hotels in Villa de Merlo and other accommodation venues |
| Back to Merlo |
© 2003-2008 Total or partial reproduction forbidden. Derechos de Autor 675246 Ley 11723