The word Catamarca, which in quechua means fortress at the foothill, makes reference to the topographical location of the city. It was initially founded by Juan Pérez de Zurita in 1558 in the Quinmivil valley with the name of Londres; by Ramírez de Velasco in 1591, in the same place; and finally by don Fernando Mendoza de Mate de Luna on July 5th, 1683,  in its current place. 
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, its capital, is a commercial and turist centre with an active cultural life, developed mainly in its University, institutions and museums. Its urban style still keeps some buildings of the colonial style. 
As far as economy is concerned, it is the production of olives, nuts, spirit, vegetables, desiccated fruits and some others what stand out. However, it is mining which, without doubt, constitutes the basis of its future richness: The mines of Farallón Negro, Bajo de la Alumbrera and Capillitas, possess huge reserves of gold, silver, copper and tin.
The geography of Catamarca presents remarkable contrasts all throughout its landscape. That is, to the West and North, it is covered by mountains and ravines that eventually widen into valleys or show up at the foothill of the peaks of the Andes Mountain Range; to the Southeast, the Pampean Sierras rise displaying in its Oriental sector a panorama of intense green tones. Among the ravines, those of  La Cébila, Los Ángeles and El Tala clearly stand out; uphill, zigzagging paths climb up the mountains. The most famous paths are Totoral, Portezuelo,  Clavillo, La Chilca and Capillitas.  
The beauties of the Catamarca landscapes are remarkable, numberless and quite varied, Needless to add are the possibilities of relaxation which are closely linked to its people's hospitality. A kind of people that uphold deep-rooted traditions and an ancestral love towards their land.