Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Córdoba Province, Argentina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (Spanish: Manzana Jesuítica y Estancias de Córdoba) are a collection of buildings and sites formerly used by the Jesuits in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, which were named a World Heritage Site in 2000.[1]
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
View of the Estancia Alta Gracia | |
  Location within Argentina | |
| Location | Córdoba Province, Argentina |
| Includes |
|
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv) |
| Reference | 995 |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| Area | 38.12 ha (94.2 acres) |
| Coordinates | 31°25′14″S 64°11′28″W |
The sites
The Manzana Jesuítica (english: Jesuit block) contains parts of the University of Córdoba, one of the oldest universities in South America, the Monserrat Secondary School, a church, and residence buildings. The first Jesuits arrived in Córdoba in 1599[1], with the university being founded in 1613.[2] To maintain such a project, the Jesuits operated six Estancias (residences) around the province of Córdoba,[3] named Caroya, Jesús María, Santa Catalina, Alta Gracia, Candelaria, and San Ignacio, with the latter not having been preserved until today.[4]
Each Estancia has its own church and set of buildings.[3] In many cases, towns grew around the estancias, such as in Alta Gracia, the closest to the Jesuit Block in the city of Córdoba. [5] The estancias are between 38 and 130 km from the city of Córdoba.[6]
History
After the founding of the university, the different estancias were started between 1616 (La Caroya) and 1683 (La Candelaria). The estancias raised cattle, fruit and crops.[3]
The estancias and the block had to be left by the Jesuits, following the 1767 decree by King Charles III of Spain that expelled them from the continent.[7] They were then run by the Franciscans until 1853, when the Jesuits returned to The Americas. Nevertheless, the university and the high-school were nationalized a year later.
Tourism
The Jesuit Block and the Estancias can be visited by tourists;[8][9] the Road of the Jesuit Estancias is approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi) in length.[citation needed]
People
Between 1990 and 1992, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who would later become Pope Francis, lived in Córdoba in the Jesuit block.[10][11]
