Adán Quiroga Archaeological Museum

Sarmiento 450 Tel. 0833-37413
Open Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 to 12:30a.m.
and from 2:30 to 8:30p.m.;
Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 to 12:30a.m.
and from 3 :30 to 6 :30p. m.

The collection harbored in this museum is of paramount importance both aesthetically and artistically. Its most interesting pieces are those from the Aguada and Condor Huasi cultures, though there is material on display from throughout the province. Exhibits range from stone objects belonging to the first cultures that inhabited these valleys and mountains over 10,000 years ago, to those contemporary with the Spanish Conquest. Amongst the thousands of pieces exhibited, there are some worthy of mentioning such as the stone objects dating back to the 3rd and 5th centuries, that were offerings placed on the tombs of important people belonging to the Ciénaga and Aguada cultures. During the later formative period ceramic was improved and the most important collection of pieces belonging to this period is to be found here. Another noteworthy exhibit are the stone and ceramic ritual pipes used for smoking ceremonial drugs.

San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
The capital of the province is located 1,145km. away from the city of Buenos Aires and 520m. above sea level. To get to this city from Buenos Aires one must take national route No. 9 up to Córdoba and then carry on down national route No. 60. The city is definitely colonial in style and its main attractions are its temples and convents, the most outstanding of which is the convent of San Francisco. The site known as Cuesta del Portezuelo is very near the city and offers a panoramic view of the entire valley.