Villa de Merlo facts for kids
Villa de Merlo is a small city in the Province of San Luis, Argentina. It's located in the Junín Department. The city is managed by a leader called an intendant. The current intendant is Gloria Petrino. Merlo is about 796 meters (2,612 feet) above sea level. People from Merlo are called "merlinos".
Merlo is the third largest town in the San Luis province. The weather here is usually mild and dry, with not much wind. There are also many small streams in the area.
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Getting to Merlo: Location and Travel
Merlo is about 751 kilometers (467 miles) from Buenos Aires. You can get there by following National Route 8 and then Ruta Provincial 1. It's also 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Córdoba and 650 kilometers (404 miles) from Rosario. From Mendoza, it's about 460 kilometers (286 miles).
The Valle del Conlara Airport is only 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Merlo. It opened in late 2001. You can also travel to Merlo by long-distance buses from different parts of Argentina. They arrive at the city's new bus terminal.
Exploring Merlo: Top Tourist Spots
Villa de Merlo is a popular place for tourists from Argentina. It's less known to people from Europe and America, though a small group of people from other countries live here.
- The Colonial Town (La Villa Colonial): This part of Merlo started to be settled in the late 1700s. It includes the Nuestra Señora del Rosario chapel, which is a national monument. It's one of the oldest buildings in Argentina.
- The Summertime Town (La Villa Veraniega): This area has many hotels and services for visitors.
Must-See Attractions in Merlo
- The Grandfather Carob Tree (El Algarrobo Abuelo): This amazing tree is over a thousand years old! It's more than 6 meters (20 feet) tall and has five very thick branches. Some of its branches now touch the ground.
- Piedra Blanca: This is a charming village near Merlo.
- Pasos Malos: Located just outside Merlo, this area is close to Peñón del Colorado. From Peñón del Colorado, you can see amazing views of the Conlara valley.
- Rincón del Este: This resort area has a public camping site, a lake, and hotels. You can find swimming spots here where the El Rincón stream flows through.
- Paragliding: Merlo is a great place for paragliding because of its perfect weather conditions.
- Wildlife: You might even spot animals like the Puma or the Andean Condor in the wild areas around Merlo.
Fun Festivals and Events
Merlo hosts many exciting festivals throughout the year:
- "Fiesta Nacional del Valle del Sol" (National Festival of the Valley of the Sun)
- Folklore festival (held in February)
- "Fiesta de la Dulzura" (Festival of Sweetness)
- "Fiesta de la Rosa" (Rose Festival)
- "Fiesta Nacional del Microclima" (National Festival of the Microclimate)
Merlo's Past: A Brief History
In 1794, a person named Juan de Videla visited Piedra Blanca. He thought it was a good spot to start a town. He told the Marquess of Sobremonte about it. On October 1, 1796, Sobremonte ordered the town to be officially founded. It was named Villa de Melo to honor Pedro Melo of Portugal.
On January 1, 1797, the town was officially founded in front of the chapel. An image of the Virgin of the Rosary was present. Saint Augustine was also chosen as the town's patron saint. Over time, the name of the town changed to Villa de Merlo.
Today, you can visit Marqués de Sobremonte square. There are plaques there that remember the town's founding ceremony. You can also see the old community well and the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario nearby.
People of Merlo: Population Growth
In 2001, a census showed that Merlo had a total population of 11,159 people. This was a big increase of 84% from the 1991 census, which recorded 6,079 people. This number includes people living in Piedrablanca, Barranca Colorada, El Rincón, and El Rincón del Este. Most of the population (95%) is of European descent. There is also a small but growing community of people from America, Germany, and Britain who have moved to Merlo.
Getting Around: Transportation Options
Travel by Air
Villa de Merlo is served by the Valle del Conlara Airport. Two airlines offer flights to and from this airport.
See also
In Spanish: Villa de Merlo para niños
