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Introducing La Rioja
Encircled by the graceful peaks of the Sierra de Velasco, La Rioja is quite a sight on a sunny day. And there are plenty of sunny days: summer temperatures rise sky-high in this quiet, out-of-the-way provincial capital.
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Juan Ramírez de Velasco founded Todos los Santos de la Nueva Rioja in 1591. The Diaguita tribe who lived here were converted and made peace with the conquerors, paving the way for Spanish colonization of what Vásquez de Espinosa called ‘a bit of Paradise.’
The city’s appearance reflects the conflict and accommodation between colonizer and colonized: the architecture combines European designs with native techniques and local materials. Many early buildings were destroyed in the 1894 earthquake, but the city has been entirely rebuilt.
Last updated: Sep 23, 2008
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