Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A little farther up the block at 249 Vélez
Sársfield is the
Academia Nacional de
Ciencias,
which dates back to 1899. The acad-
emy itself was founded by President Sarmiento
in 1869. Today it is home to the
Dr. Alfredo
Stelzner Minerology and Geology
Museum
as well as a
Botany Museum.
Large plaques
in front of
important
buildings and
sites explain
their history.
Turn right onto Calle Duarte Quirós. You're
now in the midst of Córdoba's Jesuit history.
This block is known as the
Manzana de las
Luces
, a reference to the Enlightenment, or
Siglo de las Luces
as it is known in Spanish,
when this area was really the focal point of the
religious and cultural life of the city.
First on the block is the
Colegio Nacional de
Montserrat
, founded in April of 1695. The
exterior of the building was redone in 1928 in a
Spanish Renaissance style. Take note of the
school's unique clock tower before moving on to
the interior patio. Be sure to visit the library for
a look at the school's gallery, which includes a
portrait of Duarte Quirós dating back to around
1750, as well as a 1763 painting by Luis
Gonzaga Coni.
After leaving the school, stroll along the
Peatonal Obispo Trejo,
also known as the
Paseo de Las Flores, to the city's original uni-
versity (
La Universidad Nacional de
Córdoba)
. The first in the Río de la Plata, it
was founded by the Jesuit Bishop Hernando de
Trejo y Sanabria in 1613 and served as a center
of higher learning throughout the colonial
