Goya, Argentina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Goya
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 Goya
Location in Argentina
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| Country |  Argentina |
| Province |  Corrientes |
| Department | Goya |
| Founded | 1807 |
| Elevation | 62 m (203 ft) |
| Population
(2022 census)
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| • Total | 106.368 |
| Demonym(s) | goyano |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (ART) |
| CPA base |
W3450
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| Dialing code | +54 3777 |
| Website | Official website: http://www.goya.gov.ar/ |
Goya is a city located in the province of Corrientes, in the southwest part of Argentina. It is part of a region called Argentine Mesopotamia. About 106,368 people lived there in 2022.
The city sits on the eastern bank of the Paraná River. It is across the river from Reconquista, Santa Fe. Goya is about 218 kilometers south of Corrientes, the provincial capital. It is also about 715 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city.
Goya is famous for its yearly National Festival of the Surubí. This festival includes a big fishing contest known around the world. The surubí is a very large catfish that lives in the Paraná River.
Contents
History of Goya: How the City Got Its Name
The city of Goya started when Gregoria Morales and her husband, Bernardo Olivera, bought land there in 1771. Goya does not have an official founding document. However, local stories say the city got its name from Gregoria Morales's nickname: Doña Goya.
After settling near the river, Doña Goya opened a general store. People say she made delicious cheeses from cow's milk. Visitors and merchants traveling the Paraná River bought her food. Her products became so popular that by 1801, the area was known as "Goya Port."
The settlement officially began in 1807. The local church, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, was finished in 1884. Goya also has a famous story about Camila O'Gorman and Father Ladislao Gutiérrez. They sought safety in Goya in 1848.
Swallows: A Special Connection to Goya
Every November, swallows fly to Argentina from North America. People in Goya believe that the swallows visiting their city come from San Juan Capistrano, California.
Local tradition says these swallows arrive in Goya on November 24. They leave San Juan Capistrano on October 23. Their journey follows the Pacific coast and is about 11,000 kilometers long.
When the swallows arrive in Goya, they are welcomed with festivals. These events happen at the Monument to the swallows in San Martín Square. This square is a favorite place for the birds to build their nests.
The first swallows start their return trip to Capistrano around February 18. They usually arrive back in California around March 19 each year. This special event led to a friendship agreement between Goya and San Juan Capistrano in 1985. Raúl Alfonsín, who was Argentina's president, gave a framed Argentine flag to San Juan Capistrano to remember this event.
Famous People from Goya
Many talented people have come from Goya. Here are a few:
- José Tiburcio Borda (1869–1936), a well-known psychiatrist.
- Armando Noguera (born 1977), a talented baritone singer.
- Ramón Antonio Mora y Araujo (1869–1936), a diplomat.
Sports Stars from Goya
Goya has also produced several professional athletes:
- Pedro Monzón (born 1962), a football player who played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He also became a manager.
- Horacio Ramón Cardozo (born 1979), another professional football player.
- Federico Kammerichs (born 1980), a former basketball player.
- Emanuel Dening (born 1988), a professional football striker.
- Emmanuel Ojeda (born 1997), a professional footballer.
- Kevin Zenon (born 2001), a professional footballer.
Images for kids
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San Martín Plaza
See also
In Spanish: Goya (Argentina) para niños
