The beautiful Parque General San Martin, overlooking Mendoza, is a kilometre west of Plaza Independencia. It was originally designed the late 1890s by the Frenchman Charles Thays, who planned many of Argentina’s city parks. There are some splendid wrought-iron entrance gates which were shipped in from Glasgow, Scotland.  Within the park is a football stadium which hosts the finish to the Fiesta de la Vendimia (wine harvest festival), a kilometre-long boating lake, tennis courts, a riding club and several restaurants.

To the south of the lake on Avenida Las Tipias with Prado Espanol is the Museo de Ciencias Naturales y Antropologicos choc-a-bloc with curious indigenous artefacts, dinosaur fossils and stuffed animals. Also on display is an ancient mummy, complete with shawl, discovered high up in the Andes. Open Mon-Fri 8am-1pm and 2pm-7pm, Sat-Sun 3pm-7pm. Tel: +54 (0) 261 428 7666.

Constructed on a side of the Cerro de la Gloria, two kilometres from the park entrance is the city’s Jardin Zoologico popular for its varied species. Open Tues-Sun 9am-5pm. Tel: +54 (0) 261 425 0130. On top of the Cerro de la Gloria is the Monumento al Ejercito Libertador, a monument to General San Martin and his army as they crossed the Cordillera de los Andes.