One of the oldest cities in Argentina, San Miguel de Tucuman (usually called just Tucuman) is the capital of Tucuman province and the largest city in the north. It was colonised by Spaniards coming south from Peru in 1565 and there is still a great deal of colonial architecture to be seen in the city’s churches, government buildings, mansions and houses. It was in the town’s Casa Historica that Argentina’s Declaration of Independence was drawn up in 1816.
North of the city is the weekend retreat of Tafi del Valle, nestled in a lovely setting surrounded by mountains and a pleasing microclimate. The Tafi pre-Inca culture flourished in this area and one of their most distinctive features was the construction of menhirs. Many have been gathered together and can be found in El Parque de los Menhirs.
