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Road on the outskirts of Villa de Merlo

Villa de Merlo lies 796 meters above sea level at 32° 36' 00" South, 66° 07' 60" West, in the Department of Junín, Province of San Luis, Argentina, a small city administered by an intendant, presently Sergio Luis Guardia, FJpSL. The demotic for Merlo is "merlino" or "merlina".

Merlo is the principal tourist’s destination in San Luis, and the third most populous city in the province. Weather is mild and dry, scant wind, and the area has an abundance of streams.

[edit] Ways to Merlo

Merlo is located 751 kilometers from Buenos Aires by the principal highway of the region, National Route 8 (Autopista Acceso Norte, Pilar, Pergamino, Venado Tuerto, toward Río Cuarto, and from there by Ruta Provincial 1 to Villa de Merlo [1]). Merlo is located 250 km. from Córdoba, 650 km. from the city of Rosario; 460 km. from the city of Mendoza, and comparable distances from San Juan and La Rioja.

Valle del Conlara airport, 18 km (11 mi) from Merlo, was opened at the end of 2001. Additionally, the system of ground transport includes long-distance busses which travel from different parts of the country to the new terminal in Merlo.

[edit] Tourism

Merlo may be divided into two from the standpoint of tourism.

La villa Colonial ("the colonial town"), whose settlement began at the end of the eighteenth century at Piedra Blanca, with its mild climate and numerous streams, includes the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario ("Our Lady of the Rosary"), a national monument and one of the oldest buildings in the country.^{[citation needed]}
La Villa Veraniega ("the summertime town") possesses an important infrastructure to support tourism.

[edit] Principal Attractions

"El Algarrobo Abuelo" ("the Grandfather Carob Tree") is a specimen more than a thousand years old and measuring more than 6 meters. It has five very thick branches, some of which now touch the soil.
The picturesque village of Piedra Blanca, considered the center of the microclimate.
Pasos Malos, on the outskirts of Merlo, is a place much used for days in the country. Near Pasos Malos is Peñón del Colorado, an overlook with a splendid view of the Conlara valley.
The resort of Rincón del Este, with a municipal camping site, a reservoir, and hotels. This area has natural swimming holes where El Rincón stream passes through.
Paragliding, because of suitable conditions for the sport.

[edit] Holidays

"Fiesta Nacional del Valle del Sol" (National Festival of the Valley of the Sun)
Folklore festival, held in February
"Fiesta de la Dulzura" (Festival of Sweetness)
"Fiesta de la Rosa" (Rose Festival)
"Fiesta Nacional del Microclima" (National Festival of the Microclimate)
"Encuentro Decir por la Madera" (Gathering to talk about wood)
"Encuentro Nacional de Pintores Paisajistas" (National Gathering of Landscape Painters)
"Encuentro de Arquitectos" (Gathering of Architects)

[edit] History

In 1794, Juan de Videla visited Piedra Blanca and saw that the place was suitable for the foundation of a town, as he afterward informed the Marquess of Sobremonte. On October 1, 1796, Sobremonte ordered the formalization of its foundation, under the name of Villa de Melo ("Town of Melo"), given in honor of Pedro Melo of Portugal.

On the morning of January 1, 1797, the townsfolk witnessed the formal foundation of their town. The ceremony took place in front of the chapel, beside an image of the Virgin of the Rosary. (At the same time, Saint Augustine was chosen to be the patron saint of the town.) The name of the town was altered over time and became Villa de Merlo.

One may see, in Marqués de Sobremonte square, plaques which commemorate the ceremonial founding of the town, and he may visit the old communal well and the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario nearby.

[edit] Population

The census of 2001 showed a total population of 11,159, an increase of 83.57% over the 6,079 of the previous census, in 1991. This figure includes the populations of Piedrablanca, Barranca Colorada, El Rincón, and El Rincón del Este.

[edit] External links

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