Córdoba is one of the liveliest and most culturally exciting destinations in Argentina. Located in central Argentina, the city enjoys a strategic position at the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, northwest of Buenos Aires. Moreover, Córdoba is the capital of Córdoba Province and the second most populous city in Argentina after Buenos Aires. Famous for its historic old town which is a World Heritage site, the city boasts exciting little streets, courtyards of flowers, inviting squares, lively taverns, and delicious local cuisine.

Quality of Life

Quality of life in Córdoba is generally high, based on the general overview of well-being in the agglomerations of Córdoba focusing mainly on 13 baseline indicators. Córdoba agglomerations have one of the highest performances in the well-being dimensions of community and social support, and life satisfaction, ranking higher than 95% and 80%, respectively, of the 391 OECD regions studied.

Historical Sites & Landmarks

Córdoba is rich in historical monuments from the colonial era one of those being The Great Mosque of Córdoba. The Great Mosque of Córdoba was listed on the World Heritage List in 1984 and is the most emblematic monument of Islamic religious architecture.

Another historical site is the Patios of Córdoba which was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. The Cordovan Patios Festival is celebrated during May when the Cordovan patios are adorned with flowers and pots that hang from their walls or are placed on the cobbled pavement.

Several other historical sites and landmarks make Córdoba a great tourist attraction such as the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba, Medina Azahara, and the Historic Centre of Córdoba.

Multicultural Cuisine

Córdoba has an array of multicultural cuisine that will delight any food enthusiast, its rich bullfighting history has made the oxtail a signature dish of Cordovan cuisine. The variety ranges from traditional Argentinian dishes to popular Italian fare and Middle Eastern delights. Some of the best restaurants include Macadam which has excellent Italian Cuisine, there are also Middle Eastern restaurants such as La Zete and Diran which have delectable dishes. For a taste of Europe and Asia, San Honorato and Rocamadour are worth visiting.

Education

Córdoba is one of Argentina’s main educational centers, with six universities and many postsecondary colleges. The National University of Córdoba(Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), established in 1613, is one of Latin America’s oldest and most prestigious universities and a pioneer in the field of science, technology, agriculture, and food. It is often known as “La Docta,” which means “The Wise”. The colonial university buildings located downtown were declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The Catholic University of Córdoba is the oldest private university in Córdoba and with nearly 10,000 students. The Instituto Tecnológico Córdoba was created jointly by the six universities located in the city to support technological development in the region.

Transportation

The Córdoba public transport system is generally efficient and easy to navigate, the public transport system is comprised of trains, buses, trolleybuses, and taxis with the most popular mode of transportation being the buses. More than 3.000 buses, belonging to 50 short, medium, and long-distance companies, circulate daily through the Bus terminal station. The city also has an official car for private means, the Chrysler Cordoba, which a large number of the residents own.

Córdoba is also home to the third largest airport in Argentina, Ingeniero Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport, more commonly known as Pajas Blancas, which primarily serves domestic and regional destinations across South America including flights to Central America and Europe. Popular domestic routes include Buenos Aires (1h 15m), Mendoza (1h 5m), and Salta (1h 20m) while Santiago (1h 35m), São Paulo (2h 55m), Madrid (14h), Rio de Janeiro (3h 5m), and Miami ( 11 h 31m) are the most popular international flight routes.

Safety

Córdoba is ranked as one of the safest provinces in Argentina with a low crime rate compared to other major provinces in the country. Due to a large number of tourists, the most prevalent crimes are petty street crimes such as pickpocketing and bag snatching. The avenues of Centro and Nueva Córdoba are considered the safest areas while Río Suquía, Avenida Circunvalación, Villa El Libertador, and Santa Isabel are known to be the riskiest districts with the least amount of tourist activity. The police in Córdoba are generally easy to reach and have a fast response time.