Villa Giardino: Nature, Art and Crafts
Accommodation in Villa Giardino
Villa Giardino offers a range of starting points for a trip: nature and water, religious heritage, art and crafts. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in town, these themes can help you organise your own interests. It is worth distinguishing between places in Villa Giardino, destinations in the nearby area and regional points of interest in the Departamento Punilla.
Nature and water around Villa Giardino
Northwest of the town lies the Los Quimbaletes natural swimming spot, 20 minutes from the centre. Its water flows south and forms the source of the northern catchment area of Lago San Roque. The natural swimming spot can therefore be understood not only by its location in the nearby area, but also by its role in the region’s water system.
Alto San Pedro is a 1,100-hectare former estancia and a nature reserve. Its landscape includes streams, waterfalls and natural pools, as well as forests of cork oaks and almond trees. The two natural sites offer different points of focus: for Los Quimbaletes, its location and the direction of the water flow are central, while for Alto San Pedro, its size, protected status and vegetation stand out. This allows you to distinguish between the destination’s water and landscape themes.
Chapel, art and crafts
The Capilla Nuestra Sra de Lourdes was inaugurated in 1947 under the invocation of Our Lady of Lourdes. It offers a specific historical point of interest for a culture-focused stay.
Works by George Miciu are exhibited and sold at the Sala de George. Another connection to art and crafts is the Camino de los Artesanos, which links Villa Giardino and La Cumbre over a distance of nine kilometres. Along the Camino in Villa Giardino, there are shops run by craftspeople, including those who work with looms and create works of art from wood, iron and metal. Businesses along the Camino also make homemade sweets and preserves. The route therefore features a range of crafts as well as local products, while the Sala de George offers works by a single artist.
Regional perspective: Departamento Punilla
The Departamento Punilla offers a broader perspective on the landscape. At 1,979 metres, Cerro Uritorco is the highest point in northern Punilla. The Quebrada del Condorito is V-shaped, 800 metres high and 1,500 metres wide at its broadest point. Andean condors can be observed from the upper edges of the gorge; the national park is located partly in the Departamento Punilla.
The reservoirs also provide a regional point of reference: Punilla has five significant reservoirs where visitors can fish. Sailing and motorised water sports are also possible on the reservoirs of Punilla. Thus, the regional setting offers water-based activities alongside opportunities to observe the landscape. Together with the local nature, culture and crafts, these provide different perspectives to help you plan your trip to Villa Giardino.
Discover more destinations: Villa Bustos, San Esteban, Bialet MassĂ©, Cavalango, Villa Parque SĂquiman, Huerta Grande, Tanti Nuevo, Tanti
For the broader travel overview: Departamento Punilla.
