Santa Catalina Cattle Ranch (1622)

The Estancia de Santa Catalina, founded in 1622, is the biggest. Its church is one of the best examples of the "Colonial Baroque" style in Argentina, with a marked influence of the central-European Baroque architecture.

The estancia was the most important center of cattle breeding (with thousands head of cattle, sheep and mules). The were also workshops with looms and harnesses, a smithy, a carpentry, a batán (container to work the wool before spinning), two mills and a big tajamar.

The tajamar was supplied with groundwater coming from Ongamira located several kilometers away on the sierras. When the Compañía was expelled, the estancia was acquired by Mr. Francisco Antonio Díaz in an auction organized by the Junta de Temporalidades, and it is still property of the Díaz family.

The estancia continues to be used as a place to rest and go on vacation. It was declared Historic National Monument in 1941.

The Estancia de Santa Catalina includes a big church, a residence with three courtyards and annexed constructions, the remains of the Novitiate, the rooms for slaves, the tajamar, the remains of irrigation channels and mills.

Santa Catalina is preserved almost completely, it is the biggest and three courtyards surround it. The church, with its breathtaking façade, has two towers and a curved doorway. The dome and the outstanding narthex show the influence of the Centro-European Baroque-style architecture.

The Baroque style is seen in the use of pillars and curved pediments flaming the doorway as well as in the twin towers situated on both sides of the façade. The layout of the inside of the church is very harmonious; there is only one nave that ends in the dome above the transept. There are also a remarkable golden altarpiece of the main altar carved out of wood, religious statues and a painting depicting the Patroness of the Santa Catalina.

There are other valuable preserved objects, such as the images of the "Señor de la Humildad y la Paciencia (Humility and Patience Christ), and the crucified Christ, images dressed with clothe vestments and carved out of polychromatic wood respectively. Next to the church there is an old cemetery for the clergy whose entrance is a magnificent Baroque concave doorway highlighted by its curved crowning and framed by pillars and columns.