San Luis (Spanish pronunciation: [san ˈlwis]) is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country (on the 32° South parallel). Neighboring provinces are, from the north clockwise, La Rioja, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza and San Juan.

History

The present area of the San Luis Province was inhabited by different aboriginal tribes: Michilingües, Calchaquíes, Ranqueles and Puelches.

The city of San Luis was founded in 1594 by Luis Jufré de Loaysa y Meneses, but was subsequently abandoned. It was refounded by Martín García Óñez de Loyola in 1596 under the name San Luis de Loyola.

Politics in San Luis have long been influenced by the descendants of the noted mid-19th century advocate for San Luis's integration into the rest of Argentina, Juan Saá. Since the return of Argentina to democratic rule in 1983, in particular, the Rodríguez Saá family (of Peronist affiliation) has occupied the governor's seat. This situation is, as in many smaller provinces in Argentina (and, indeed, elsewhere), partly explained by the customary use of a combination of nepotism, propaganda and generous social welfare legislation. This includes substantial allegations of illegal pressure, including the violent 1991 harassment of a local journalist and his neighbors. Since 1983, however, Governor (now Senator) Adolfo Rodríguez Saá has also overseen record investment by light manufacturers (mostly food-processors and bottling plants) and advances like the construction of Argentina's most extensive expressway network.

San Luis, the Spanish name for Saint Louis, is a common toponym in parts of the world where that language is or was spoken. It may refer to:

Places

Sant Lluís (in Spanish: San Luis) is a municipality on the tip of south-east Minorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands.

The area is most noteworthy for its varied coastline, with fine sand beaches and cliffs, and the beautiful coves of Binissafúller, Biniancolla and Binibeca, with their typical whitewashed fishermen's houses. There are capes and islets, and medieval defensive towers all along the coast, very characteristic of the island. The main beach resort is Punta Prima.

The main town is Sant Lluis founded by the French in 1761 during their occupation of Minorca and dominated by Es Moli de Dalt, a fully restored, traditional windmill which is now a museum open to the public. The town was named after Louis IX and was built around a large, whitewashed neoclassical church, which still bears the king's name. The town celebrates its own festival, the Feast of St. Luis, at the end of August.

The town is home to the Bodegas Binifadet winery started in 1979, which offers year-round tours with an opportunity to sample the produce. A new winery was opened in 2004 based on a design by architect Lluís Vives

San Luis (Santa Cruz) is a small town in Bolivia.

References

Coordinates: 18°08′30″S 63°28′47″W / 18.1417°S 63.4797°W / -18.1417; -63.4797