Mendoza is a city in the west of Argentina, and the capital of the Mendoza Province. As per the 2001 census [INDEC] it has about 111,000 inhabitants, plus 800,000 in its metropolitan area.
Mendoza is on a major road between Argentina and Chile. It is a frequent stopover for climbers heading up Aconcagua or other mountain climbing, trekking, horsebackriding, rafting, and outdoor activities. In the winter, skiers come to the city for its easy access to the Andes.
The grape harvest is marked each year by the Vendimia festival, taking place in early March, in which 17 beauty queens (one for province departaments) are nominated, and one winner is selected by a panel of about 50 judges. The queen from Mendoza City cannot be chosen because she acts as host for all other queens. Mendoza City proper does not have vineyards.
Mendoza has an intense cultural activity, and the city is a main center for professional congresses and meetings. There are several museums, the main ones being the Museo Cornelio Moyano (a natural history museum) and the Museo del �rea Fundacional (Foundation Area Museum, historical). In Maipú, 15 km southeast from Mendoza, there is the Museo Nacional del Vino (National Wine Museum), which focuses on the history of winemaking in the area. In Mayor Drummond, 14 km south from Mendoza, there is the Emiliano Guiñazú - Casa de Fader art museum, hosted in a 1890 mansion where many walls have paintings by the artist Fernando Fader.
Chapi