Today’s Plaza General Belgrano is located where Francisco de Argañaras y Murguía founded the city of San Salvador de Velazco on April 19, 1593. This directly connects the cityscape today with the founding history of San Salvador de Jujuy. The historic center can be explored on foot in a few hours; its grid layout is framed by the Río Grande and the Río Xibi Xibi. The plaza, city layout and rivers offer different perspectives on the historic city center.
City History and Museums
The Bandera Nacional de la Libertad Civil was presented by General Manuel Belgrano in 1813 as a sign of gratitude to the people of Jujuy. The hall where the flag is kept opened in 1927 and was designed specifically for this purpose. The two dates mark different milestones: the presentation of the flag and the opening of the hall designed specifically for it.
Casa Museo “Macedonio Graz” offers another historical perspective. Its permanent exhibition on the 19th century includes the journalist from Jujuy’s original rooms and personal belongings. The colonial courtyard provides a distinctive setting for artistic and musical performances. Both the exhibition and cultural events in the courtyard are central to the experience of this house.
The El Salvador Cemetery is also given a cultural and historical context: the city’s 2021 tourism itinerary presented it as an open-air museum.
Green Spaces and Nature Observation
Parque Xibi Xibi offers a natural landscape in the city center, as well as opportunities for recreation and contact with nature. The park is home to the “Las Lavanderas” amphitheater, a venue for numerous cultural events for a general audience. Parque Xibi Xibi thus combines a natural setting and a cultural venue, although visitors need not be interested in both for the same reasons.
Parque Botánico Municipal “Barón Carlos María Schüel” offers a different focus on nature. Among lush vegetation and the rich biodiversity of the Yunga foothills, visitors can go birdwatching; endemic animals of the region are also found there. Those interested in observing nature will find a specific focus here, while Parque Xibi Xibi offers recreation and contact with nature in the city center.
Festival and Getting There
The traditional Festival de la Empanada Jujeña takes place every year in San Salvador de Jujuy. Its program includes food, music, dancing and activities for the whole family. The exact dates vary from year to year. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for that year’s edition.
Several bus routes serve the San Salvador de Jujuy bus terminal. For travel by car, Ruta Nacional 9 (Panamericana) is the main road connection to San Salvador de Jujuy. The bus terminal and national highway are therefore the listed points of reference for two different ways of getting there.
Discover more destinations: Yala, Hornillos, Calilegua, San Javier, Ciudad Perico, Maimará, Tilcara, Purmamarca.
For the broader travel overview: Jujuy.
