What to do and see in Santiago del Estero, Northern Argentina: The Best Free Things to do

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 Order of Preachers or Santo Domingo built his first temple in 1553 in a location that does not have too much precision. What is known is that the temple had to be abandoned because the government forced them to leave, until they returned in 1587 and 1593 and had a new temple.Definitely established in Santiago del Estero built a new temple in 1615 to replace the previous one was completely deteriorated. This new church suffered from floods in the area obliterating it completely, which is why the Dominicans decided not to rebuild and carry out their services in a small chapel. When the city moved westward, the order built a new monastery and temple until approximately 1793, because the facilities were in very poor condition, moved to the building that had belonged to the Jesuits expelled in 1767, taking his church and school. As all these buildings were in ruins, was erected in that place the present temple in 1881. Without a well defined architectural style, the temple we see today is in the neighborhood of Las Catalinas, witnessing the passage of the history of the province and the country.Inside, is venerated religious relics and historical as the Master Jesus, the Immaculate Conception and the Holy Shroud or Turin Shroud, which is a copy of the shroud that wrapped the body of Christ when he came down from the cross after crucifixion. It is a negative portrait of Christ on the canvas caused by the blood of his wounds and the vapors leave the body. It is unique in America and the second in the world for its fidelity to the real Shroud of Turin. Is exposed from the December 7, 1986 on one side of the altar, laid out on a case vertical, which I turned to see both sides of the sheet.At Easter the showcase is the busiest of Santiago.