Rafaela facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rafaela
City
From left to right and top to bottom: the Municipal Museum of Art Dr. Urbano Poggi, the San Rafael Cathedral, the Plaza 25 de Mayo, the Monument to San Martín, and the Rafaela Station.
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  La Perla del Oeste
Rafaela Location in Santa Fe Province Show map of Santa Fe Province Rafaela Location in Argentina Show map of Argentina
Country	Argentina
Province	Santa Fe
Department	Castellanos
Founded by	Guillermo Lehmann
Area
• Total	156 km2 (60 sq mi)
Elevation	90 m (300 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	110,709
• Density	709.7/km2 (1,838/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	rafaelino/a
Time zone	UTC−03:00 (ART)
CPA base	S2300
Dialing code	+54 3492
Website	Official website: http://www.rafaela.gob.ar

Rafaela is a lively city in Argentina. It is located in the central-west part of the Santa Fe Province. Rafaela is the third largest city in the province. Only Rosario and Santa Fe are bigger. People often call it "The Pearl of the West." This is because of its beautiful nature, culture, and buildings. In 2022, about 111,000 people lived there.

The city got its name from its founder, Guillermo Lehmann. He named it after Rafaela Rodríguez de Egusquiza. She was the wife of his friend and business partner, Félix Egusquiza. They owned the land where the city was built.

Rafaela is found along National Route 34. It is about 96 km northwest of Santa Fe city. It is also 234 km from Rosario and 530 km from Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital. Its location helps with trade routes to the Pacific Ocean. This is thanks to its closeness to National Route 19.

Rafaela is very important for Argentina's economy. It is known for making metal products and for its dairy industry. The city is in the middle of the country's biggest dairy farming area. This makes it a major center for dairy production. Rafaela is seen as a "Gateway to the World." This is because its industries connect with many countries. These include places in America, Europe, and Asia.

The city is also called the "Capital of Theater." It has many old theaters like the Centro Ciudad de Rafaela. This theater has the Juan B. Lasserre Hall, which opened in 1932. Rafaela also hosts a famous Theater Festival every year since 2005.

Exploring Rafaela's Buildings and Streets

Rafaela has many low-rise houses. Different neighborhoods show various building styles. The first areas to grow, like the main "25 de Mayo" square, still have very old houses. Older neighborhoods include San Martín, 9 de Julio, Sarmiento, Villa Rosas, and Alberdi. These were some of the first parts of the city.

Today, Rafaela has more than 15 towers that are taller than 10 stories. On Mitre Avenue, you can find the two tallest towers: Torre Piamonte and Torre Mitre. Both are 20 stories high and reach 65 meters.

Some streets in Rafaela still have cobblestones. These are present on the four main avenues and nearby streets. People often discuss whether these old stones should stay or be removed. The city government takes good care of them. Many areas with cobblestones are in perfect condition.

One special area in the city has streets that run diagonally. This is different from the rest of Rafaela's grid pattern. This unique layout started when the railway arrived. Streets had to be built parallel to the train tracks. This created the unusual street pattern you see today.

City Neighborhoods: A Full List

Rafaela has 42 neighborhoods. Here is a list of them in alphabetical order:

• 17 de Octubre
• 2 de Abril
• 30 de Octubre
• 9 de Julio
• Alberdi
• Amancay
• Antártida Argentina
• Barranquitas
• Barrio 42
• Belgrano
• Brigadier General Estanislao López
• Central Córdoba
• El Bosque
• Fátima
• Guillermo Lehmann
• Ilolay
• Independencia
• Italia
• Jardín
• Juan de Garay
• La Cañada
• Los Arces
• Los Nogales
• Luis Fasoli
• Malvinas Argentinas
• Martín Fierro
• Martín Güemes
• Monseñor V. F. Zazpe
• Mora
• Mosconi
• Nuestra Señora del Luján
• Pablo Pizzurno
• San José
• San Martín
• Sarmiento
• Villa Aero Club
• Villa del Parque
• Villa Dominga
• Villa Los Álamos
• Villa Podio
• Villa Rosas
• Virgen del Rosario

Rafaela's Location and Landscape

Rafaela is home to about 103,000 people. Almost half of them are under 30 years old. The city is in the central-west part of the Santa Fe province. It is 96 km from Santa Fe city. It is also 234 km from Rosario and 530 km from Buenos Aires.

Expansion of the urban area of Rafaela 2000 - 2020

The city sits on a flat plain. The center of Rafaela is higher than the areas around it. Water flows from these higher parts towards the east. To help with water flow, canals were built on both sides of the city. The southern canal is now mostly underground.

Rafaela is laid out in a grid pattern. It has a central square that covers four blocks. Four main boulevards start from this square. The city's design is mostly the same everywhere. However, the northwest area has diagonal streets. This change happened because of Bartolomé Mitre Avenue. It was built to make the path to the train stations shorter when the railway came in the 1800s.

Rafaela is different from many other cities its size. It is not located near a coast or a river. It shares this feature with its nearby city, San Francisco.

How Citizens Help Plan the City

In 2008, Rafaela's city government created a special department. It is called the Department of Administration and Participation. After this, the government started a process called Participatory Budgeting. This idea came from a successful project in Porto Alegre. The main goal is to let citizens have a stronger say in how the city's money is spent.

The city government has used this method for three years in a row. This helps make sure that people's ideas are heard. It also helps decide which public projects get built.

Rafaela's Climate

Rafaela has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm to hot summers. Winters are mild, but sometimes there are cold nights. Rain usually falls most often in the summer. The driest time of year is winter.

Rafaela's Economy: Industry and Farming

Rafaela is famous for its metalworking and dairy industries. It is located in the middle of South America's largest dairy farming area. This makes it the main dairy capital of the region.

Other important activities include farming and raising livestock. Rafaela has a busy industrial park. This park has recently grown with the creation of PAER. PAER stands for Parque de Actividades Económicas de Rafaela. The Instituto Tecnológico Rafaela (ITEC) is also located there.

Education in Rafaela: Schools and Universities

Rafaela offers many educational choices for students.

Primary Schools: Learning the Basics

• School No. 21 Libertador General San Martín (for adult education)
• School No. 475 Bernardino Rivadavia
• School No. 476 Juan Bautista Alberdi
• School No. 477 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
• School No. 478 Villa Rosas
• School No. 479 Cristóbal Colón
• School No. 480 Mariano Moreno
• School No. 481 Bartolomé Mitre
• School No. 482 Manuel Belgrano
• School No. 652 Villa Podio
• School No. 851 Ángela de la Casa
• School No. 886 Brigadier General Estanislao López
• School No. 1136 Paul Harris
• School No. 1186 Dr. Lisandro de la Torre
• School No. 1247 Centenario de Rafaela
• School No. 1287 Juan Domingo Perón
• School No. 1316 Don Tomás
• School No. 1343 Amancay
• School No. 1351 Madre Teresa de Calcuta
• School No. 1359 Juan Bautista Languier
• School No. 1361 Ángela Peralta Pino
• School No. 1393 Barrio 2 de Abril
• School No. 6393 Pablo Pizzurno
• School No. 6405 Gabriela Mistral
• Private School No. 1025 Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia
• Private School No. 1075 25 de Mayo
• Private School No. 1108 San José
• Escuela No. 1331 De la Plaza

Secondary Schools: High School Years

• Secondary School No. 204 Domingo de Oro
• Secondary School No. 376 Joaquín Dopazo
• Secondary School No. 428 Luisa Raimondi de Barreiro
• Secondary School No. 429 Mario Vecchioli
• Secondary School No. 505 Mahatma Gandhi
• Secondary School No. 613 Alicia Cattáneo
• Secondary School No. 615 Luis Alberto Spinetta
• Secondary School for Adults No. 1007 Libertad
• Technical Secondary School No. 460 Guillermo Lehmann
• Technical Secondary School No. 495 Malvinas Argentinas
• Technical Secondary School No. 654 Dr. Nicolás Avellaneda
• Private Secondary School No. 3091 De la Plaza
• Private Secondary School No. 3128 25 de Mayo
• Private Secondary School No. 8022 Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia
• Private Secondary School No. 8140 San José

Special Education Schools: Support for All Students

• Special School No. 2079 for the Hearing Impaired
• Special School No. 1260 A.P.A.D.I.R.
• Special School No. 2027 Melvin Jones
• Special School No. 2107 for the Visually Impaired Prof. Susana Crespo
• Fundación Espacios de Aprendizaje y Capacitación
• Fundación para el Aprendizaje y Trabajo del Discapacitado (FAD) / Camino de Luz Protected Workshop
• Centro Especial La Huella
• Special School No. 2082 for Vocational Training
• Special School No. 2129 for the Mentally Disabled

Instituto No. 2 de Rafaela

Universities: Higher Learning Opportunities

• National University of Rafaela (UNRAF)
• National Technological University (UTN) - Rafaela Regional Faculty
• University of Business and Social Sciences (UCES) - Rafaela Campus
• Catholic University of Santiago del Estero (UCSE) - Rafaela Academic Department
• Catholic University of Santa Fe (UCSF) - Rafaela Campus

National University of Rafaela

Sports in Rafaela: A City of Athletes

Rafaela is a city that loves sports. Many different activities are popular here.

Football: The Most Popular Sport

Estadio Club Atlético de Rafaela

Just like in most of Argentina, football is the most popular sport in Rafaela. It draws the biggest crowds.

The main football teams in the city are:

• Atlético de Rafaela: This team played in Argentina's top league in 2003/2004. They returned to the top league in 2011.
• Club Sportivo Ben Hur: This team played in the second division between 2005 and 2008.
• Club Atlético Nueve de Julio: This team competes in a federal league.

Rafaela also has its own football league. It is called the Liga Rafaelina de Fútbol. This league includes clubs from Rafaela and nearby towns.

Basketball: A Champion Team

In basketball, Ben Hur is a well-known team. They played in Argentina's top basketball league. They even won a championship there. Ben Hur also won the South American Basketball League title.

Motorsports: The Temple of Speed

Autódromo Ciudad de Rafaela during a Turismo Carretera race in 2007.

The Atlético de Rafaela club has been organizing motorsport races since 1919. The club opened the Autódromo Ciudad de Rafaela in 1953. This track has hosted big races like Turismo Carretera.

The track is often called "the temple of speed." This is because of its unique oval shape. The Argentine speed record was set here. In 2012, Gabriel Ponce de León reached 306.38 km/h on this track.

Rugby and Hockey: Growing Sports

The city also has a rugby team called Círculo Rafaelino de Rugby (CRAR). This club also has hockey teams for both girls and boys. They also have a women's rugby team. CRAR has produced three players who played for the national rugby team, the Pumas. These players are Hugo Berra, Mayco Vivas, and Pedro Rubiolo.

Cycling: National and International Success

Rafaela has a special track for cycling called "Héctor Cassina." It is at the Club Ciclista de Rafaela and opened in 1991. The city has a long history in road cycling. Now, track cycling is also very popular. Rafaela cyclists have won many national and international awards.

In 2010, Luis Vegetti was named the Sportsman of the Year in Rafaela. He was 44 years old and had a great year. He won gold medals at the Pan-American Championship in Cuba. He also placed fourth at the Masters World Cycling Championship in Portugal.

Culture in Rafaela: Arts and History

Rafaela has a rich cultural scene. It offers many places for entertainment and learning.

Cinemas and Theaters: Shows for Everyone

Cine Teatro Municipal Manuel Belgrano

Rafaela has modern cinemas that show the newest movies. The city's theaters always have different plays and music shows. These performances are known locally, nationally, and even internationally.

• Anfiteatro Alfredo Williner
• Teatro Juan Lasserre
• Cine Teatro Municipal Manuel Belgrano
• Cine Las Tipas
• Centro Cultural La Máscara
• Centro Cultural Municipal - Sociedad Italiana Víctor Manuel II

Museums: Exploring the Past and Art

The city has 11 museums. They show different parts of Rafaela's culture and history.

Some of the most important museums are:

• Museo Histórico Municipal: This museum tells the history of the city.
• Museo Municipal de Arte Dr. Urbano Poggi: Opened in 1969, it shows Rafaela's art. It also hosts traveling art shows.
• Museo Municipal Usina del Pueblo: This museum focuses on the city's industrial past.
• Museo de la Fotografía: Founded in 1987, it is one of the first photography museums in Argentina. It has a library, lab, and archives.
• Museo Ferroviario de Rafaela: This museum is about trains and railways.
• Museo de la Música y el Sonido: Located at Hipólito Yrigoyen 1653, it is about music and sound.

Libraries: Places to Read and Learn

Rafaela has several libraries where you can find books and information:

• Biblioteca Municipal "Lermo Rafael Balbi"
• Biblioteca Popular "Arco iris"
• Biblioteca Popular "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento"
• Biblioteca Popular "Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez"
• Biblioteca Popular "José Manuel Estrada"
• Biblioteca Popular "Monseñor Antonio Brasca"

Famous People from Rafaela

Many well-known people were born in Rafaela. They have become famous in different fields:

• Hermes Binner †: He was the mayor of Rosario twice. He also served as the governor of Santa Fe province.
• Javier Frana: A professional tennis player.
• Ricardo Lorenzetti: He used to be the President of Argentina's Supreme Court of Justice.
• Sebastián Porto: A former professional motorcycle racer.
• María Emilia Salerni: A professional tennis player.
• Lucas Aveldaño: A professional soccer player.
• Silvia Bertolaccini: A former professional golf player. She is now an announcer for ESPN Latin America.
• Denis Stracqualursi: A professional soccer player.
• Grillo Demo: A modern artist.
• Axel Werner: A professional footballer.
• Alejandro Donatti
• Ángelo Martino
• Fabricio Fontanini
• Facundo Colidio
• Florencia Molinero
• Mayco Vivas
• Melisa Gretter
• Tomás Pochettino

Sister Cities: Friends Around the World

Rafaela has special friendships with cities in other countries. These are called sister cities:

• Sigmaringendorf, Germany (since 1994)
• Fossano, Italy (since 1997)
• Carcabuey, Spain (since 2013)

See also

In Spanish: Rafaela para niños