Salta

Salta stands in the fertile Lerma valley, ringed by the mountains of northwestern Argentina. Its position links routes from the high Andes with the eastern lowlands and the lands farther south. Long before the Spanish city was established, indigenous communities inhabited the valley and its neighbouring mountain districts. The name Salta was associated with an indigenous community of the valley and survived the name given to the new Spanish foundation.

Hernando de Lerma founded the city in 1582, after Spanish authorities chose the valley as a place from which to strengthen communications between Tucumán and Upper Peru. Plots were assigned for a town council, cathedral and settlers. The expedition had set out from Santiago del Estero with horses, cattle and carts of supplies, accompanied by indigenous people as well as Spanish soldiers. Its founders sought to secure the route by which documents and merchandise travelled towards the mines of Potosí. Salta grew on the route between the silver-producing lands to the north and the Río de la Plata.

During the wars of independence, the army of Manuel Belgrano defeated royalist forces at Salta in February 1813. Martín Miguel de Güemes later led the defence of the northern frontier against renewed royalist advances. The defeated royalist commander Pío Tristán had retreated to Salta after his defeat at Tucumán. Before the battle, Belgrano’s army swore allegiance to the assembly meeting in Buenos Aires and raised the blue and white flag. The city remained closely connected to the struggles and commerce of the mountain provinces around it.