Estancia de Alta Gracia
The Estancia de Alta Gracia built in 1643 and located in the Heart of Alta Gracia city is undoubtedly the estancia with greatest activity. Its temple is the parish church of the city, and its residence houses the National Museum "Casa del Virrey Liniers". Besides, its tajamar is a famous landmark of Alta Gracia.

The origin of the Estancia de Alta Gracia is traced back to the donation made by Mr. Alonso Nieto de Herrera to the "Compañía de Jesús" in 1643. The Jesuit made good use of the rural establishment developing a new plan to achieve their necessary means of subsistence. This plan consisted in building a new workshop used for the manufacturing of textile products, though agriculture and cattle breeding, especially mules trade, were the basis of their subsistence economy. When the "Compañía de Jesús" was expelled, the estancia was acquired by different private owners (one of them was Mr. Santiago de Liniers, former viceroy of the Río de la Plata and hero in the battles against the English invaders in 1807). Mr. Manuel Solares divided the lands surrounding the residence into different lots. This division of lands would give birth to the city of Alta Gracia. After the Estancia de Alta Gracia was declared Historic National Monument in 1941, the national government acquired the residence and nearby buildings in 1968 to house the National Museum "Casa del Virrey Liniers".

The estancia includes the church (today the local parish church), the residence (the National Museum "Casa del Virrey Liniers") With its courtyards and annexed buildings, the workshops, the tajamar, the remains of the mill, the old kiln located by the first wall of the irrigation channel. The church stands out with its Baroque style and its ornament inside (the big altarpiece of the main altar, its wreathed columns, its lavish crowning and the pulpit carved out of wood catch the attention of tourists). The dome without drum and the extremely elaborated façade with discontinued curves and the engaged pillars are examples of Late Italian Baroque. It is the only church of Argentina that has a facade with no towers and a wide transept; the linear construction of the building mingles with an oval-shaped design. The L-shaped nearby residence is characterized by its vaulted corridors that go along the main facade, its big stairs to get in from the courtyard, the Baroque crowning like the church façade, and the doorway that connects the streets to the main courtyard.

Landscape

The Estancia de Alta Gracia is located in the central area of a colorful city at the foot of the sierras, and with a close view of Sierras Chicas. Although the urban development has modified the original setting, the mystery remains and the magnificent monument still projects itself in the tajamar.

Cultural Activity

The original plan of production designed by the Jesuits had to readjust to urban development. The functions of some of the facilities of the estancia changed: the residence houses a museum, the church continuous offering religious services, the workshops house a secondary school, the tajamar is a recreational center enjoyed by local and visitors alike, the lands used for growing vegetables and cattle breeding are now neighborhoods, the lime kilns and the hydraulic plants are located on the western outskirts of the town. The history of Alta Gracia lies under all these facilities and the visitors have the chance to understand it by touring around. The museum as such, and a site interpretation center are essential for cultural tourism.

Location

The Estancia de Alta Gracia is located in the Heart of Alta Gracia opposite the main square, 36 kilometers southwest of the city of Córdoba by the provincial road 5 (see the map).