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After a devastating earthquake in 1861, Mendoza was reconstructed on a grid, making it easy to explore on foot. Four small squares (Chile, San Martín, Italia, and España) radiate from the four corners of Plaza Independencia, the main square. Their Spanish tiles, exuberant fountains, shaded walkways, and myriad trees and flowers lend peace and beauty. Avenida San Martín, the town's major thoroughfare, runs north–south out into the southern departments and wine districts. Calle Sarmiento intersects San Martín at the tourist office and becomes a peatonal (pedestrian mall) with cafés, shops, offices, and bars. It crosses the Plaza Independencia, stops in front of the Park Hyatt, then continues on the other side of the hotel to a busy restaurant strip.
A small joint enterprise between the Catena family from Mendoza and the Rothschild family who own Château Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux, CARO crafts Argentine blends with a French accent. Visit includes ducking down into the historic cellar before sampling three vintages. Come in the evening and you might catch some tango. Tastings take place Monday to Friday.
This 1922-founded winery close to downtown Mendoza was brought into the 21st century by the Millán family, who are hands on at the bodega. Besides sampling a solid wine selection, visitors can enjoy the art gallery (curator Paula Dreidemie is available for private tours), guided visits, and tastings (from 10,000 pesos). Book in for lunch or dinner at Abrasado restaurant, which specializes in dry-aged beef. The winery also produces award-winning extra-virgin olive oil called "Laur."
Mendoza has cultivated numerous home-grown artists, many inspired by the Andes and wine culture. You can appreciate works by many renowned, contemporary Argentine artists such as Antonio Berni and regional ones such as Osvaldo Chiavazza and Camila Insúa at this museum cellared under Plaza Independencia.
Home of former governor and senator Emilio Civit, this 26-bedroom 1873 mansion was the gathering place of the belle epoque elite. Today it's the Museum of the Cuyo's Past with paintings, antiques, history books, and artifacts from Argentina's War of Independence on display.
Dating back to 1896, this 971-acre park has more than 50,000 trees from all over the world. Fifteen km (9 miles) of paths meander through it. You can stop and smell the roses (a dedicated garden contains hundreds of varieties), observe aquatic competitions from the rowing club's balcony restaurant, or set the kids free on the numerous playgrounds. Scenes of the 1817 Andes crossing by José de San Martín and his army during the campaign to liberate Argentina are depicted on a monument atop Cerro de la Gloria (Glory Hill), a steep 20-minute walk up from the park's center. The stadium here (built for the 1978 World Cup, which Argentina won) hosts popular soccer matches; the amphitheater (capacity 22,500) fills to the brim during Vendimia, the annual wine harvest festival; and there are markets and open aerobics classes on the weekend.
In Mendoza's main square you can sit on a bench in the shade of a sycamore tree and watch children playing in the fountains, browse the stands at the daily artisan fair, or stroll past the historic Plaza Hotel (now the Park Hyatt) on your way to the shops and outdoor cafés on pedestrian-only Calle Sarmiento, which bisects the square.
