Estancias in South America
June 12th, 2009
Visiting a Urguayan estancia is surely one of the best ways to experience a beautiful and rich period of South American history. An estancia is the equivalent of a north american ranch and became a significant part of the landscape in Uruguay, Argentina, Southern Chile, the Patagonian grasslands and the southernmost state of Brazil in the 19th century.
Prior to 1880, estancias were massive yet simple structures constructed with thick walls of flagstone and iron window grills in the spanish colonial style. Cattle and sheep ranching were the primary activities of an estancia and with agricultural globalization between 1880 and 1920, the architectural splendor of estancias grew in proportion to the great rise of wealth in Uruguay and Argentina.
Gauchos could be compared to a North American “cowboy” or a Mexican “charro” and prior to the far-reaching establishment of estancias and the implementation of anti-vagrancy and passport requirement laws in the 19th century, these proud and skilled horseriders roamed the countryside with their ponies and wild herds of cattle. Much folklore and romanticism surrounds the life of a gaucho who by all accounts possessed a strong sense of identity and code of conduct, traveling at will and living off the land. At one time gauchos took work on estancias when the mood struck but towards the end of the 19th century the freedom of this lifestyle was diminished until finally the life of a gaucho was primarily tied to the estancia.
Today estancia tourism provides travelers with a peek into a majestic era where the soul of the south american prairie unfolds under blue skies and the experience of a long-ago lifestyle of honor is easily felt through the interaction with modern-day gauchos who still represent the pride and respect for a beautiful land.
Visit San Pedro de Timote north of Montevideo, Uruguay for an exceptional estancia experience: www.sanpedrodetimote.com
Categories: Uruguay | Tags: estancia, gaucho, south america, Uruguay
