The Museo de Ciencias Antropológicas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de La Rioja is located in Capital Department and houses a significant archaeological and paleontological collection. This gives the destination a clear connection to archaeology and natural history.
The museum in Capital Department
The museum offers free guided tours for school groups and the general public. If you plan to take a tour, check the latest visitor information in advance. This lets you plan your museum visit around your needs without assuming a fixed schedule.
Historic sites in the nearby city of La Rioja
In the nearby city of La Rioja, religious buildings, museums, and historic sites come together to offer a distinct cultural experience. Las Padercitas are the remains of a fort built from adobe in 1630 on the orders of Don Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera to protect the city from attacks by Indigenous groups. The site is located in the Quebrada de los Sauces and was declared a National Historic Monument in 1942. A pilgrimage in honor of San Francisco Solano has been held there every year on the third Sunday in August since 1919.
The Iglesia y Convento Santo Domingo also combines architectural history with a museum: the colonial complex was declared a National Historic Monument in 1931, and construction began around 1623. The Museo de Arte Religioso Sor Leonor de Santa María Ocampo is housed in the former cloister. The Catedral Basílica Menor San Nicolás de Bari was built after the 1894 earthquake. Construction began in 1910 under the direction of architect Juan B. Arnaldi, and the cathedral was inaugurated in 1912. Byzantine, Gothic, and Italian Baroque styles characterize the cathedral, whose museum displays liturgical and historical objects.
The museums offer different perspectives on art and the city's history. The Museo de Bellas Artes displays paintings, sculptures, and temporary exhibitions featuring works by prominent artists from the province and Argentina. The Museo Inca Huasi houses more than 9,000 archaeological objects from the Aguada, Diaguita, Belén, Condorhuasi, and Santa María cultures. Through photographs, objects, and stories, the Museo de La Ciudad presents the urban, social, and cultural development of the provincial capital, as well as the formation of its residents' identity.
Green spaces and events
Parque de la Ciudad in the nearby city of La Rioja is a green recreational area of more than 50 hectares at the foot of the Sierras. Parque de la Ciudad y Superdomo includes an artificial lake with birds and fish, public swimming pools, cycling paths, picnic areas, and children's playgrounds. One swimming pool is open during the summer season; check its current operating status before planning a visit. The Superdomo hosts sports, cultural, and arts events, though no specific date is implied.
Religious culture can also be explored along the Huellas de Pelegrinos route: Iglesia La Merced is part of this religious and cultural tourism route. Santuario Diocesano Nuestra Señora de la Merced was built by Ángel Marturet in 1898 and expanded in 1937 with a tower and bell tower created by the Macchi brothers. Comparing this collection in Capital Department with these sites, a museum in the destination and historic cultural sites in the nearby city of La Rioja offer distinct points of interest.
More landscapes and cultural destinations in La Rioja Province
La Rioja Province also offers distinctive natural and archaeological attractions. Talampaya National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site; its red sandstone cliffs reach heights of up to 200 meters. Reserva Provincial Laguna Brava is a Ramsar wetland in the Andes near the Chilean border. These two landscapes offer a different focus from the museums and religious buildings of the city of La Rioja.
Cuesta de Miranda also offers views of geology, flora, and fauna, which can be observed from its viewpoints. The route follows a 114-kilometer stretch of Ruta 40 connecting Chilecito with General Felipe Varela. At Parque Provincial El Chiflón, the guided tour includes the geological formation El Hongo. At the Hualco archaeological site, interpretive walks connect landscape, archaeology, and cultural heritage; guided tours of the site are offered at Centro de Interpretación Tamberia del Inca.
Discover more destinations: La Rioja, Las Padercitas, Coronel Felipe Varela, Coronel Felipe Varela, Arauco Department, Chilecito Department, General Lamadrid Department, Famatina Department.
Back to the main travel overview: La Rioja.
