Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 1613, the Jesuit Bishop Hernando de Trejo y
Sanabria founded the nation's first university
in Córdoba, the Universidad Nacional de
Córdoba, turning the city into a center of higher
learning and earning her a second nickname
which is still used today: “La Docta" - The
Learned.
The church and the university dominated the
city's first three centuries which, with the
exception of a few tumultuous events, were rel-
atively tranquil. Midway through the 20th cen-
tury, however, Córdoba began to experience a
period of strong economic growth, still visible in
the 1990s. Since 1947, with its growth as an
agricultural and industrial capital, the city's
population has surged from 350,000 to
1,300,000. Fiat and Renault have plants here,
as do several other multinational corporations.
Córdoba is the
name of the
province and
the capital city.
It is the second
largest city in
the country.
Córdoba's cultural life has also intensified. Res-
idents and visitors enjoy several annual music
and cultural festivals, both national and inter-
national. The city is home to numerous small
theaters,
cine clubs
(movie clubs), and café
shows in addition to the Teatro Libertador Gen-
eral San Martín, a frequent host to great per-
formances on tour from Buenos Aires and other
major cities throughout South America.
All in all, while faithful to her colonial roots and
traditions, Córdoba is a vibrant and dynamic
modern city.
