Temples and treasures: the Tucuman Faith Route awaits you to discover it!

In the center of San Miguel de Tucumán is the main temple of the province: the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation. It is opposite Independencia Square and is one of the three oldest churches in Argentina. In it, you can see the urns where the remains of General Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid and Bishop Eusebio Colombres rest, two emblematic figures of our history. A few meters away, on the other hand, is another of the most outstanding places of worship: the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy, where the image of the Virgin, called “The General of the Armies of 1812”, and the baton of command which General Manuel Belgrano offered to the Virgin are preserved, among other invaluable treasures for the Homeland.

In the north of the province, just 6 kilometers from Trancas, you can visit the only site in Tucumán with the trace of a saint, the Well of San Francisco Solano. Throughout the year, pilgrims come to this site of great significance to take advantage of the healing waters that flow from its spring. In Trancas, it is also possible to visit another site of great historical interest: the Sacred Heart Church, which witnessed two important events: the assassination of the first governor of Tucumán, General Bernabé Aráoz, and the baptism of the famous sculptor Lola Mora. In addition, if you travel 30 kilometers to the Branch of Heaven, San Pedro de Colalao, you will find another of the key destinations: the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is a replica of the original in France and is a valuable place for congregation. The Grotto is full of mysticism and invites you to enjoy an emotional mapping show at night.

Leaving the Choromoro Valley, you begin a journey to another of the great circuits that the province offers. It is time to discover the treasures hidden in the Calchaquí Valley. The Chapel of Our Lady of Covadonga is a small temple built with local materials that contains an incredible story. According to the story, this sanctuary was commissioned by an Asturian who, after saving his life in an accident, made the Virgin a promise: to build a place of worship in her honor in a place similar to his native Asturias. If you travel a little further you will reach Amaicha del Valle, where the Church of San Ramón Nonato stands in front of the central square. This temple was built at the end of 1800 and stands out for its strong colonial style, with roofs made of cactus wood and carob beams that shelter its only auditorium.

The landscape diversity of Tucumán is great and allows us to enjoy the valley and destinations where green color invades every inch of the land, such as the Yungas. One of the must-sees on this circuit is, without a doubt, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Villa Nougués. It is a picturesque neo-Gothic chapel that has a singular beauty and is nestled between hills and mounds, being one of the most charming places in the area. The sanctuary opens its doors for masses and special events. In its surroundings, you can walk a Via Crucis and also visit a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes.

 Traveling 40 kilometers to the El Siambón site, you can find another milestone of the circuit: the Cristo Rey Monastery. It is a chapel built by the Benedictine Monks with stones and wood from the rivers and forests. There it is possible to buy handmade sweets made by the hosts of the place themselves, in addition to sharing a mass with them in a setting of total peace. To conclude this journey through the temples and sanctuaries of the province, you must travel to the south, a circuit extremely rich in culture and history. The itinerary begins in Lules, more precisely in its Jesuit Ruins of San José, which constitute a living testimony of the time of the Spanish conquest. The site, located on Provincial Route 301, is made up of an old chapel and a convent founded by the Society of Jesus in 1670. There are the dormitories, the warehouse, the workshops, and the school where the Lules Indians studied. It is even the place where the first public school in Argentina operated. Further south you reach another of the points of interest on the circuit: the Church of the Villa de Medinas, in Chicligasta, a picturesque temple whose oldest image belongs to the Virgin of Mercy and dates back to 1600, made of wood and gold sheets. The last stop on the trip is the Jesuit Church of San Ignacio de Loyola located in La Cocha. It has a colonial style and was built between 1746 and 1757 by the Indians under the direction of the Jesuit fathers. As indicated by the customs of the time, the temple was located on a high site in the town and belonged to the Jesuit Reduction, the first to manufacture sugar in Tucumán.

Here concludes the journey through the Tucumán circuits, visiting each of the sanctuaries and discovering the secrets of the Route of Faith. Now you are ready to live the Route of Faith to the fullest!