Streets full of trees, as few are in the world, a remarkable network of irrigation ditches and canals, beautiful squares, modern buildings and active trade, parks and neighbourhoods that climb the mountains towards the sky, in short, Mendoza is all that, besides being a synonym for well-being and peace.

Mendoza citizens love their green areas. And that explains all their love and perseverance to attempt the transformation of their streets into true pedestrian gardens where the traveller can enjoy the characteristic oasis of the Mendoza environment.

The metropolitan area encompasses 11,000 hectares and includes the City of Mendoza, Godoy Cruz, Guaymallen, Las Heras, Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu.

For two decades population has grown slowly in the capital, but, on the contrary, it has grown very fast in rural areas, which has caused human beings to alter the landscape.

Pedro del Castillo founded it in the year 1561, and it was named Mendoza in honour of don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, General Captain of Chile, and his father, don Andres Hurtado de Mendoza, a Peruvian Viceroy.

Its initial layout was a 5x5 block nucleus. Following Spanish tradition, the Plaza Mayor Main Square was built there, and around it were the Iglesia Matriz Main Church, the Cabildo Town Council, the Convent and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus Jesuit Church, and a few houses of prominent citizens.

The colonial city expanded between the Guaymallen and Tajamar canals (the former today in a pipe under San Martin Ave.).

A few centuries later, on March 20th 1861, when the town had began its urban and economic take-off, a violent earthquake destroyed it completely. Two years later, French land surveyor Balloffet traced a new city to the southwest of the devastated town, with current the Plaza Independencia Square as its centre.

The new city incorporated a novelty to its style: filling squares, streets and avenues with trees. For that purpose an intercommunicated network of irrigation ditches and then a modern irrigation system were created, similar to the one used in farming fields. And for that reason Mendoza is known as the Oasis City, one of the most beautiful in Argentina.

The traveller may begin the journey around the city from the Zona Antigua (Old Quarter)