Sight guide · Mendoza · Argentina
Visiting Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins
The original colonial city stood here until the 1861 earthquake.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Mendoza · Photo: Silviaanac, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins is a historic site in Microcentro, Mendoza. Allow 1–1.5 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Microcentro
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, rainy day and off the beaten path
- Best months
- December–February
Plan a trip to Mendoza
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
About Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins
The original colonial city stood here until the 1861 earthquake. A museum on Plaza Pedro del Castillo shows excavated foundations, the old council building and exhibits on the disaster, while the ruins of the Jesuit-built San Francisco church stand across the square.
Tip: Take a short taxi from the centre and combine the museum with the ruins on the plaza opposite in one visit.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Microcentro, the grid around Plaza Independencia, Peatonal Sarmiento and the satellite plazas.
Best time to visit Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins
Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: 32°C (90°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- February: 30°C (86°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, busy crowds.
- December: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Mendoza has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Mendoza itinerary visits Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins on day 1, together with Plaza Independencia, Plaza España and the satellite plazas and Avenida Arístides Villanueva.
- No. 6 of the 14 sights in our Mendoza things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
Near Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins
Also in Microcentro, so you can walk between them:
- Mercado Central — 45 minutes, free
- Plaza España and the satellite plazas — 1 hour, free
- Paseo Sarmiento — 30–60 minutes, free
If you like Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins
- Museo Casa de Fader — Luján de Cuyo wine country, 1 hour
- Museo de Ciencias Naturales Juan Cornelio Moyano — Quinta Sección and Arístides Villanueva, 1–1.5 hours
Staying near Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins
Stay in Microcentro ($$) to walk here: the grid around Plaza Independencia, Peatonal Sarmiento and the satellite plazas. All areas to stay in Mendoza.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins?
Plan 1–1.5 hours. With Mercado Central nearby, it fits a half-day in Microcentro.
+Is Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins?
December–February, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Take a short taxi from the centre and combine the museum with the ruins on the plaza opposite in one visit.
+Do I need to book Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.