Quilmes Ruins — Sacred Calendar Mystery

Your quest for the sacred calendar begins in Plaza 25 de Mayo, the historic heart of Catamarca. Founded in the 19th century, this central square has been the scene of political gatherings and popular festivities since Argentina's independence in 1816. Surrounded by emblematic buildings like the Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Valle and the Casa de Gobierno, this 2-hectare esplanade, with its central fountain and commemorative statues, is the ideal starting point to decipher the first symbols left by the ancients. Catamarca, land of sun and good hospitality, opens its doors to you.

Continue towards the Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Valle, an imposing neoclassical edifice built between 1858 and 1888. Its two 40-meter high towers house the Virgen del Valle, patroness of the province, whose image dates back to the 17th century. Declared a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1937, this cathedral is an important pilgrimage site. Here you will search for clues hidden in its architecture, perhaps a recurring motif or an engraved date that will guide you to the next enigma of the archaeological heritage of the Argentine northwest.

The path then leads you to the Museo Arqueológico Adán Quiroga, inaugurated in 1957. This museum is key to understanding the Diaguita and Quilmes cultures. It exhibits over 5,000 pieces, including 11th-century ceramics, petroglyphs, and lithic tools from the Calchaquí Valley. The museum is named after Adán Quiroga, who conducted significant excavations in Quilmes in 1929, discovering woven fabrics. It is here, among these ancient artifacts, that fragments of the sacred calendar might reveal themselves, uncovering the secrets of Catamarca's ancient peoples.

Your investigation takes you to the Casa de Gobierno de Catamarca, seat of the provincial executive power, built in 1862. This neoclassical building with its central patio witnessed the federalist revolutions of 1861-1862 in the Argentine northwest. Its historical archives contain information on the Calchaquí indigenous resistance against the Spanish, a crucial aspect for understanding the context of your quest. Every architectural detail, every inscription, could conceal a clue leading to the final location of the calendar.

The last segment of your journey takes you along the Alameda de la Cruz, a historic promenade created around 1880, 800 meters long and planted with百年 trees. A place for military parades and religious processions related to the Virgen del Valle since 1850, it abounds in statues of local heroes and wrought-iron benches from the late 19th-century Italian era. Here stands the Monumento al Aborigen, inaugurated in 1943, a work by sculptor Lino E. Palumbo, symbolizing the resistance of the Diaguita-Quilmes peoples. Engraved 'Al Aborigen Argentino', this monument is the culmination of your exploration, where the mystery of the sacred Quilmes calendar will finally unfold, crowning your thematic tour in Catamarca.