But enjoying Mendoza's landscapes, mountains, rivers and cities is not enough to discover Mendoza: it is necessary to meet its people.

The city was founded at the foothills of the impressive Andes Mountains, in 1561. The religious and cultural work carried out by early colonists settled in the province had a strong influence on its social and economic growth. It changed the region's outlook, helping the development of the area’s production and the founding of progressive human settlements.
The later arrival of Spanish and Italian immigrants by the end of the nineteenth century printed in the Argentine society its most important characteristics: hospitality and homogeneity. European and native people live together in harmony.

Mendoza is the largest wine region of South America. It is located in central western Argentina, between 31° 59’ and 31° 33’ degrees south and 63° 30’ and 70° 35’ degrees west.
It is 1.100 km from Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital city, 400 km from Santiago de Chile and 3,200 km from Sao Paolo, the economic capital of Brazil. The nature of its location makes Mendoza the most important link between Mercosur and the Pacific ports.

More than a million and a half inhabitants (1,579.651) write their story every day in a 150,840 km2 province.

Mendoza offers natural attractions which make it the tourist hub for those who love adventure tours and the outdoors of Argentina and the world. The Andes Mountains in Mendoza allow travellers to practice winter sports in its well-known ski resorts such as Las Leñas, Los Penitentes and Vallecitos.

In the summer time, visitors have the opportunity to experiment exciting activities such as canoeing and rafting in the fast-flowing mountain rivers, mountain climbing (Mount Acongagua, the highest peak in the American continent (7,035 mt above sea level), is in Mendoza), trekking, overlanding and mountain biking.

The reservoirs and water table levels were created for an efficient exploitation of the fast-flowing mountain rivers to allow motor boating, sailing and fishing.

International hotels and restaurants provide comfort and complete facilities as typical of a region which is constantly expanding, proved by the growth of commercial, tourist and urban real estate investments. Satellite equipment and cellular telephone systems make it possible for Mendoza to be on the cutting edge of the telecommunications network.

Development and progress are based on the large number of public and private university centres which offer young people a wide range of educational choices: arts, sciences, economy, engineering, architecture, agriculture, etc.

Third millennium businessmen from Mendoza appreciate the value of counting on highly trained professionals and permanent technological development, which results in real competitive advantages.

All these factors in addition to its strategic location have turned the province into the main business centre of western Argentina as well as the communication core between Mercosur and the Pacific markets. Its integrated roads and motorways, its modern airport and the free customs zone offer the province the appropriate infrastructure for an intense foreign trade development.

Therefore, the main financial entities throughout the world are represented in Mendoza.