Colonia Caroya

Colonia Caroya was founded in 1878 when families from Friuli in northeastern Italy were settled on land that had belonged to a Jesuit estancia, and their descendants kept the traditions: the town is known across Argentina for its salami and cured meats, its wine, particularly the frizzante reds made from Isabella grapes, and a Friulian dialect still spoken by older residents. The main avenue runs for kilometres beneath plane trees planted by the settlers, lined with wineries, salami makers and restaurants that sell directly. The Jesuit estancia of Caroya itself, the oldest of the order's rural establishments in the region and part of the UNESCO listing, stands at the town's edge as a museum. The salami festival in March fills the streets.

What you actually see

• The plane tree avenue - the long shaded road planted by Friulian settlers.
• The salami makers - workshops and shops selling the town's cured meats.
• The wineries - small producers of frizzante and table wines.
• Estancia de Caroya - the Jesuit estate museum at the town's edge.

When to go

Year-round; March brings the salami and wine festival and the grape harvest. Weekends are when most producers open their doors to visitors. Summer is hot, and the shaded avenue is at its most welcome then.

Honest expectations

The town is spread out along its avenue rather than compact, so a car helps. Many producers open only at weekends or by arrangement. The wines are a local style that divides opinion, sweeter and fizzier than most visitors expect.

Nearby

Jesús María adjoins to the north; Córdoba city lies south.