Santiago del Estero is the capital of the Santiago del Estero Province located in northern Argentina. Situated on the Dulce River and National Route 9, the city is positioned approximately 1,042 km north-northwest of Buenos Aires. It covers a surface area of 2,116 km² and has a population of 252,192 inhabitants, ranking it as the twelfth largest city in the country.
The city is historically significant as the first settlement founded by Spanish settlers in the territory that currently comprises Argentina. Due to this heritage, it is nicknamed "Madre de Ciudades" (Mother of Cities). It has also been officially declared the "mother of cities and cradle of folklore."