Nonogasta, Village in La Rioja Province, Argentina
Nonogasta is a small village in La Rioja Province in northwestern Argentina, set in a valley near the Grande de los Sauces river, roughly 11 miles (18 km) from the town of Chilecito. The streets are mostly unpaved, lined with trees and adobe houses, and the hills of the Velasco range frame the village on one side.
The area around Nonogasta was once an active mining and smelting zone, where metal ore was processed in furnaces called forjas. The most notable of these was Santa Florentina, built in the early 1800s and shut down in 1907, whose stone walls still stand today.
In Nonogasta, grapevines grow in yards, along streets, and on small plots around the village, making wine a visible part of daily life. Some local wineries welcome visitors for informal tours where you can see grapes turned into wine in a simple, personal setting.
Nonogasta sits along national roads RN 40 and RN 74, making it easy to reach by car. Visitors who want to explore the ruins and vineyards in the surrounding area will find it easier to get around with their own vehicle, as the points of interest are spread out.
Near the village, the remains of a cable car system once linked the Mina La Mejicana mines high in the mountains to the valley below. At the time it was built, this line was considered one of the longest of its kind in South America.
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