Top 10 Things to do in Santiago del Estero, Northern Argentina

The historical background of this temple is as follows:The Mercedarios were the first order in the city going back to approximately 1557.However, In 1580, it hosted the First Provisional Cathedral of Santiago Del Estero as the Mother Church was destroyed.The flooding from the Rio Dulce back in 1628 took with them the first building and a new temple was built in the same location of where it is today. In 1817, a strong earthquake hit the city and collapsed and again it was built, but in 1824, two years after the inauguration and because edilicias failures, collapsed, but in 1823, it had ordered the suppression of the Order of Mercy to be a single parent, having been auctioned property. Furthermore, the congregation knew the santiagueña guard and maintained respect and love for his church and later a new building took shape with the support of Governor Ibarra who was a devotee of the Virgin. The same was inaugurated back on September 24, 1836. Incredibly, the following year a fire left it in ruins. It was finally rebuilt in 1851 and renovated in the mid-twentieth century, performing ongoing maintenance on it as usual.On February 24, 1942 it was declared a National Historic Landmark, according to Decree No. 112,099.The temple has a single nave, with masonry walls painted white. The roof and tile roof are supported by a wooden structure inside. The courtyard is raised regarding the sidewalk and guarded by bars.On the walls of the front there are numerous plaques referring to religious and historical facts. There is also a bust by sculptor Robert Delgado, of General Manuel Belgrano whose mother's family was originally from Santiago del Estero.The main facade is neoclassical, with a strong influence of traditional architecture. It has a round bell tower with three bells, the oldest dating back from 1739.It has a single door on which there is a triangular pediment which highlights a wrought iron cross and shield of the Order of Mercy.For a time the remains of Governor Juan Felipe Ibarra rested on this lot, but in 1875, his grave was desecrated, being moved to a secret place which even today is unknown.Inside are the magnificent stained glass highlights, along with carved confessionals. It is the image of the Virgen De La Merced along with a wooden baton ITIN which were both donated by Governor Juan Felipe Ibarra.There are also the Christ of the Holy Sepulchre who is also called Reclining Christ which is an ancient polychrome-size image which traditionally chairs the Friday procession at Easter and several images dear to the Catholic people Santiagueño feel like St. Jude, Our Lady of Sorrows, Jesus Nazareno, San Ramon Nonato, the Christ of Health and San Pedro Nolasco.

The Franciscan Order has been in Santiago del Estero since 1566.The first church building was located on the original site of the city.The second temple was built farther west, following the shift of Santiago result of flooding. The time and subsequent flooding of the Rio Dulce as deteriorated and had to rebuild, but in 1845 the building was demolished due to the danger posed by their facilities in poor condition.The parish church of San Francisco Santiago del Estero and Governor Juan Felipe Ibarra, at the request of Fray Miguel de Jesus Lopez contributed with donations to build the new church, completed in 1853. Three decades later, due to rain and the salt from the ground deteriorated. Once again had to be rebuilt and the opening of the building that endures to this day came on June 20, 1895. The restoration and maintenance is ongoing to this day, in order to preserve this heritage.The temple and monastery were declared National Historic Monument by Decree No. 123,529, dated February 6, 1948.The architectural style is neo-Gothic building with pointed arches, spiers and needles.Others believe that style is eclectic because they are present ornate Gothic and Corinthian and elements of neoclassicism and romanticism. Participated in the construction of the last facade builder and sculptor José Díaz Delgado Rafael Castro. Picture in the Church San FranciscoHe has great size and a Latin cross plan. It has three naves, choir, sacristy, ante-sacristy and two bell towers. The dome, eight segments, is clad in tiles Pas de Calais.Accessing it by steps leading to a covered courtyard, whose walls are observed several plaques with inscriptions remind priests of the Order or commemorate historical events.The gate of wood, with windows that show images of the life of St. Francis of Assisi lead to the interior, which also has magnificent stained glass windows that adorn and give light to the temple.In the aisles there are altars dedicated to San Lorenzo, San Benito of Palermo, Santa Lucia, San Luis Gonzaga, San Francisco Solano, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, St. Jude Thaddeus, San Cayetano, Santa Clara of Assisi, Jesus of Divine Mercy Sacred Heart of Jesus, Altar - San Francisco Santa Ana, San Joaquin, San Antonio de Padua, San Roque, Santa Rita, Our Lady of the Valley, etc.. Most of the images is very old bill.On the floor are slabs indicating the burial place where the remains of Priests of the Order. The high altar, wooden gold-leaf pine is of great size and beauty.To the right of the temple, galleries conducCelda Colonial Chapel of St. Franciscoen to Cell Chapel, eighteenth century reconstruction of the cell, in the same place where St. Francis built with his hands the dwelling where he lived during his stay in Santiago del Estero , during which time he evangelized Spanish, Creoles and Indians, using as weapons the Bible, the cross and the violin.It's a simple room with mud walls and thatched roofs and in which were placed some original woodwork.It saved the chasuble, the cord and stole of the saint died in Lima, Peru in 1610.