Tandil

Introducing Tandil

Tandil exudes a rare combination of laid-back country charm and the energy of a thriving regional city. The town sits at the northern edge of the Sierras de Tandil, a 2.5-million-year-old mountain range worn down to gentle, grassy peaks and rocky outcroppings, perfect for rock climbing and mountain biking.

The town arose from Fuerte Independencia, a military outpost established in 1823 by Martín Rodríguez. In the early 1870s, it was the scene of one of the province’s most remarkable battles, when renegade gauchos, followers of the eccentric healer Gerónimo de Solané (popularly known as Tata Dios), gathered in the hills before going on a murderous rampage against landowners and ­recent immigrants.

The immigrants prevailed, and the culinary skills they brought from Europe have made the area an important producer of specialty foods. The hundreds of cheeses and cured meats made around Tandil can be sampled in eateries and stores throughout town.

The pretty town center is leafy and relaxed, with many places closing on Sundays and observing the afternoon siesta. Locals crowd the squares and streets of an evening, and there is plenty of cultural life, including a film festival each June (www.tandilcine.com.ar).

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009