Argentina travel blog by Mark Berman -
May 2012
November 2019
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View Photoset (35 Photos)
I Once Heard a Song
I had heard the
famous song called 'Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe' sung by Dionne Warwick when I was a child, at least that's what I thought
it was called. When I was in Argentina again in 2012, I decided to visit Santa Fe. I vaguely remembered the melody but not really the words
to this song, only the part that goes 'do you know the way to Santa Fe, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo...'. Santa Fe sounded like a wonderful place to
visit! Santa Fe is 2hrs 20mins north of
Rosario, but
when I arrived it was nothing like I had envisioned. Not that there is anything wrong with the place. In 2019 I actually visited Santa Fe
once again, this time arriving from
Cordoba by bus (6hrs 30mins).
I Need to Hear the Song Again
I thought it would now be a
good time to look up the song on
YouTube and have a listen. I quickly discovered that the song is actually called 'Do You Know the Way to
San Jose'! My girlfriend laughed and thought I was crazy for basing a visit to a place on a song I had heard when I was a child. I thought
it was pretty funny too, but anyway that's where we were so we stayed the night and had a look around!
Around the City
The church Basilica Nuestra
Senora del Carmen was finished in 1893, it is in the center of town near the pedestrian walkway through the shopping area. Santa Fe has its
share of historic buildings but many are now banks, one that is not a bank is the Ministry of Security building beside Plaza 25 de Mayo.
Interesting historic buildings are scattered all around the city, look around and you will find many great facades. The plazas central monument
is that of independence leader Jose de San Martin (1778-1850). The firemen of Santa Fe also have a monument placed in the plaza in their honour
as well as Dr. Alfredo Nogueras from the people of Tartagal in northern Argentina. Across the road from the plaza is a derelict church called
La Catedral Nueva, it looked like something you would find at the Acropolis of Athens Greece. Behind is another church called Sagrado Corazon
de Jesus near to the National College of Simon de Iriondo (1836-1883), he was twice the governor of Santa Fe province. A few blocks away is a
plaza called Plaza Soldado Argentino, nothing too amazing, there's an old cannon, a sundial, a fountain and a mural.
Around the Port
Walking in the direction of the port.
Plazoleta Blandengues has a monument to Eva 'Evita' Peron and a fountain. Very close by is another plaza called Plazoleta Prefectura Naval
Argentina with a bronze work of Luis Gerbino - I think an Italian author. Another plaza very close to the port is Plaza Cristobal Colon, much
larger than the others with a big fountain / water feature. The main monument is of Dr. Rodolfo Freyre (1862-1919) - Governor of Santa Fe
(1902-1906) and of course there is also one to Cristobal Colon. Plazoleta Suiza next to it is much smaller. Another monument is of Dr. Aldo
Emilio Tessio (1909-2000) - Governor of the Santa Fe Province (1963-1966). Across the road to Puerto de Santa Fe, Santa Fe's port on the Rio
Parana. There is a museum and a few things to see down here.
Other Points of Interest
Other buildings and places of interest on the Santa Fe city map
include Casa del Brigadier Estanislao Lopez, Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes, Convento y Museo de San Francisco, Casa de los Diez de Andino,
Iglesia y Colegio y Museo de los Jesuitas, Casa de Manuel Leiva, Teatro Municipal 1 de Mayo, Plaza Espana and Plaza de los Constituyentes.
Santa Fe to Parana
From Santa Fe across the river to the city of
Parana was my next destination, it's an hour away, there is a tunnel linking the 2 cities called
The Subfluvial Tunnel.
Tweet
Church with clock tower in the distance in Santa Fe, an historic city.
Building looks like it could be in China, but it is in Santa Fe, interesting.
Juan de Garay (1528-1583) holding a sword, a Spanish conquistador, statue in the park in Santa Fe.
Part of the facade of the College of the Immaculate Conception with a sculpted face at the top, Santa Fe.
