Southern Córdoba province: Calamuchita Valley

South of Córdoba, there's another fascinating and well-preserved Jesuit

estancia in the unprepossessing

town of Alta Gracia, which is the gateway to a picturesque hilly area between the high peaks of the Sierra Grande and Sierra de Comechingones. Fans of that great 20th-century icon Ernesto 'Che' Guevara will also want to visit his childhood home. Further south still, there's superb walking in the wooded countryside, near the quaint Germanic town of Villa General Belgrano and prettier still, the mountain town, La Cumbrecita. It's well worth spending two or three days combining the Jesuit heritage with some walking or relaxing in the hills, to gain the essence of Córdoba's history and landscapes. For more information on the area, see www.calamuchita.com.