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In 1794 Juan de Videla visits Piedra Blanca and, when he saw that the site was conducive to founding a city, communicated it to the Marquis of Sobremonte. On October 1, 1796, Sobremonte orders the foundation to be formalized under the name Villa de Melo, in honor of Pedro Melo of Portugal. On the morning of January 1, 1797, the city awoke to the sound of the bells, the neighbors witnessed the founding of the city.



Together with the image of the Virgin of the Rosary, the ceremony was held in front of the chapel, and on this occasion San Agustín was chosen as patron saint of the city. Over time, its name was deformed, becoming Villa de Merlo.



In the Marqués de Sobremonte square, you can see the signs reminiscent of this moment and then visit the common cistern and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.





Merlo is the main tourist destination of the province of San Luis, Argentina, and the third most important city of the province. The site-specific microclimate is considered one of the best in the world, characterized by the specific negative ionization of the atmosphere, its climate is mild and dry, with wind scarcity and a large number of currents surrounding the area.

The colonial city, whose settlement began in the late eighteenth century in the region of Piedra Blanca, with a pleasant climate and numerous streams. There is the chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, declared National Historic Monument, one of the oldest buildings in the country.

Villa Veraniega, which has an important tourist infrastructure.

Adventure tourism is one of the many activities that can be developed in this beautiful tourist village.

The Algarrobo Abuelo, over a thousand years old and measuring over 6 m, has 5 very thick branches, some already touching the ground, which is in the area known as Bajo de Veliz, a region belonging to Santa Rosa del Conlara, a city that is 16 km from Merlo, in the Conlara Valley.

The picturesque city of Piedrablanca, considered the center of the microclimate

The Pasos Malos site on the outskirts of Merlo, widely used for picnics. Nearby there is a splendid viewpoint called Peñón del Colorado, which dominates the Conlara Valley.

The spa of Rincón del Este, with municipal camping and a dam, with hotels. This place in Merlo has natural pools where the El Rincón Creek passes.

Paragliding flights, due to conditions conducive to its practice

The Comechingones Mountains are an ideal setting for rappelling, trekking, canyoning, zip lining, waterfall rappelling and 4x4 crossings. Perform these activities with professional mountain guides.

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