Plaza San Martín is the central square around which some of the city’s most majestic landmarks stand. A statue of its valiant eponymous hero on horseback rises over the benches and gardens of the pedestrianized plaza. Enjoy the ambiance, as you capture photos of Cordoba’s most iconic attractions.
Gaze up at the imposing pink-hued façade of the Cordoba Cathedral in the southwestern corner. Admire the twin towers of the structure, which dates back to the early 18th century and has been renovated several times. A terrace in the bell tower offers a panoramic view of the plaza.
Adjacent to the cathedral is the Cabildo, recognizable by its long colonnade. Enter its museum to learn about the building’s rich history. It served as a police station, a city council and a detention center where detainees were tortured and killed during Argentina’s Dirty War.
Watch a dramatic performance or contemporary dance at the Teatro Real on the southern flank of the square. Walk southwest to reach the Carmelite Monastery, where nuns devote their life to prayer. Enter the accompanying Santa Teresa Church for its fascinating frescos and tombs. It contains the Museum of Religious Art, which has temporary exhibits showcasing ecclesiastical relics and historical artifacts relating to Córdoba.
Inspect the statue of José de San Martín, who was an Argentine leader that played a major role in South America’s fight for independence from the Spanish Empire in the early 19th century. Many plazas and statues across the Southern Cone of the continent pay tribute to the general.
Read a book on a bench in the green space at the center of the plaza. The square also contains rows of palm trees, a small octagonal fountain with fish and a votive lamp.
Plaza San Martín is the nucleus of Córdoba, around which the rest of the city grows. Ride one of the many buses that stop on the southern flank of the square. Walk here from nearby attractions, such as the Museo San Alberto, the Espacio Cultural Mumu and the Maria Elena Kravetz Art Gallery.
