Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
bus services throughout the country.
BUSES FROM SANTA FE
DESTINATION
COST (AR$)
DURATION (HR)
Buenos Aires
252
6
Córdoba
200
5
Corrientes
329
8
Paraná
6
40min
Posadas
509
12
Resistencia
315
7
Rosario
64
2
Salta
784
16
Tucumán
472
11
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cayastá
An interesting day trip from Santa Fe takes you to that city's original location, the
Cay-
astá ruins
(Santa Fe la Vieja; 03405-493056;
www.santafe-conicet.gov.ar/santafelavieja
;
RP1,
Km78, Cayastá; admission AR$2; 9am-1pm & 3-7pm Tue-Fri, 10am-1pm & 4-7pm Sat & Sun Oct-
Mar, 9am-1pm & 2-6pm Tue-Fri, noon-6pm Sat & Sun Apr-Sep)
, picturesquely set beside the Río
San Javier, which has eroded away a good portion of them.
There's ongoing archaeological excavation and conservation, but the most fascinating
find by far has been the
Iglesia de San Francisco
. The Spanish and mestizo inhabitants
of old Santa Fe were buried directly beneath the earth-floored church, and nearly 100
graves have been excavated, including those of Hernando Arias de Saavedra
('Hernandarias'), the first locally born governor of Río de la Plata province, and his wife,
Jerónima, daughter of Juan de Garay, who founded Santa Fe and Buenos Aires. The skel-
etons have now been replaced by replicas, but it's still a spooky, atmospheric place.
You can also see the remains of two other churches (there were originally six) and the
cabildo
(town council building), as well as a handsome reconstructed period house. Near
the site entrance is an attractive
museum
housing finds, including fine indigenous pot-
tery with parrot and human motifs.
