Rafaela (Argentina)

Rafaela is a city in Argentina, located in the central-west region of the Santa Fe Province. It serves as the head of the Castellanos Department and is the third most populous and significant urban center in the province, following Rosario and the provincial capital, Santa Fe. The city is known as "The Pearl of the West" due to its natural, cultural, and architectural beauty. According to the socio-economic survey report by ICEDeL, the city's statistical institute, Rafaela had an estimated population of 111,000 in 2022. The city was named by its founder, Guillermo Lehmann, in honor of Rafaela Rodríguez de Egusquiza, the wife of his friend and business partner, Félix Egusquiza, who were the original owners of the area. Rafaela is located in the central-western part of Santa Fe province, along National Route 34. It is situated 96 km northwest of Santa Fe city, 234 km from Rosario, 292 km from Córdoba, and 530 km from Buenos Aires. Additionally, its strategic location facilitates trade routes to the ports of the Pacific Ocean due to its proximity to National Route 19. Economically, Rafaela stands out for its metalworking and dairy industry, being at the heart of the country's largest and richest dairy basin, making it a principal economic capital. The city is considered a "Gateway to the World" due to its industrial connections with most American, European, Far Eastern, and Asia Minor countries. Culturally, Rafaela is known as the "Capital of Theater" because of its numerous historic theaters such as the Centro Ciudad de Rafaela, with its Juan B. Lasserre Hall dating back to 1932, and the Sociedad Italiana. It also hosts cultural centers like Centro Cultural La Máscara, established in 1996, amphitheaters, and exhibition halls. Most notably, Rafaela is renowned for its traditional and acclaimed Theater Festival, held annually since 2005.