The primitive settlers, who called themselves COMECHINGONES, were peaceful men of small build, and, what was most notable, they wore beards. Theiy made use of the surrounding ecosystem as a means of survival. As a result of their cultural contact with the SANAVIRONES, who were natives coming from the North of Córdoba, they learnt how to cultivate using irrigation; they domesticated llamas and vicuñas, and practised hunting and fishing. Their name, COMECHINGONES, means “eating stone”, or “eating soil”, most probably in reference to their housing conditions that were made out of sticks and hay, and dug within the gorges of water courses, or, semi-engrossed in caves dug into rocks.   

When the colonizing stream advanced from Alto Perú, headed by Don Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, the city of Córdoba de la Nueva Andalucía was founded on July 6th, 1573.  The conquering events that took place in the area managed to control the primitive inhabitants in ways that would change the destiny of the lands and of their dwellers.   

Don Juan Nieto, a loyal assistant who undertook interpreting the languages between the natives and Spaniards, is awarded a Distribution of Lands located in the Paravachasca area, on April 8th 1588, as recognition towards his cooperation.  He then begins to exploit his lands, and provides for housing, ranches and stone yards.  He set up a small Estancia, which he named POTRERO DE SAN IGNACIO DE MANRESA, which was extremely large, according to versions from diverse authors. It unfurled towards the West, reaching the hill tops, and towards the East up to today’s road that runs from Córdoba to Anisacate.  It is also estimated that its approximate location was undertaken two leagues south of the current city centre, very close to the Anisacate River.   

When Juan Nieto died, in 1609, his widow consented to marry Don Alonso Nieto de Herrera, who had no family relationship with Juan Nieto, and remained as the sole heir of this extensive property after the death of his wife and stepdaughter. In memory of a Sanctuary from Algarrovillas de Alconétar (located in Extremadura, Spain), dedicated to worshiping the ritual of the Virgin of Alta Gracia, to whom he was greatly devoted, he re-baptizes the zone with her name. 
A man of strong religious conviction, he took the decision to enter into the Society of Jesus as a Coadjutor Brother, and donated all his properties to this Society in the year 1643.  When the Jesuits arrived at the Estancia, times of great progress begun.  In order to provide possible cultivating lands with water, they built the Tajamar (year 1653), which was provisioned by means of underground canals and irrigation ditches that supplied water from the reservoirs, LOS PAREDONES. This hydraulic dam was complemented by THE MILL, and would later provide a watering system for cultivated soils and villas. 

His architectural works have been present until today, and his main constructions consist of the WORKSHOP, THE CHURCH and THE RESIDENCE.  There remain no traces of LA RANCHERÍA, but reference is given to this site, which was the lodging area for the black slaves and native workers. The Jesuit Estancia was administered by two or three farming brothers, who lived in the Residence, and controled some 300 black slaves to fulfil their tasks. 
In 1767, the Jesuits are expelled from all the missions in America and Europe, and their properties go to the hands of a Council of Temporalities.  Black slaves are taken to Córdoba and the Estancia of Alta Gracia remains practically abandoned. The administration unfeasibility on behalf of the Council of Temporalities is what leads the Estancia to be auctioned off in 1773. By way of this public sale, it is acquired by José Rodríguez, who commits to pay for it in a term of nine years, but cannot comply with his obligation. In 1785, Rodríguez mortgages Alta Gracia together with his properties in Córdoba, and obtains new terms of agreement with the Council of Temporalities. He dies in 1786, and his son, Manuel Antonio Rodríguez, undertakes the administration of the Estancia, remaining under this function and living of its capital for the following ten years. In 1787, a decrease in production from the Estancia becomes notorious, and as a consequence, a new time extension is agreed, in order to pay off the debt.  In order to execute the credit in favour of the Council of Temporalities, the Estancia is once again auctioned off in 1796. 
Juan del Signo turned out to be the highest bidder and the person to whom the Estancia was awarded, with Victorino Rodríguez and Antonio de Arredondo to act as his proxies.  Victorino was the son of the executed debtor, and also integrated the Council of Temporalities that had established the auction. Before long, the division of the extensive property is undertaken, according to an agreement reached between the purchasing parties. 
The principal settlements, plus one half of the amount of slaves, are granted to Arredondo, which meant journeys of one or two horse ridden days along rocky tracks, in order to visit these settlements.  The Residence and surrounding lands are granted to Victorino Rodríguez, who maintains possession until 1810, date in which he sells it to Don Santiago de Liniers y Bremond, who, on his way through Córdoba decides to take up residence, and with loaned money and mortgages, he manages to purchase the Estancia.  
As a result of the Revolución de Mayo, Liniers becomes part of a counter-revolutionary delegation that, from Córdoba, heads towards Buenos Aires.  This delegation is repressed and the Heads of Command, Virrey Liniers amongst them, are executed in Cabeza del Tigre, close to the current district of Cruz Alta. The Estancia passes into the hands of Virrey Liniers’ heirs, who cannot undertake an appropriate administration due to the fact that their are not of age, and their tutors reside in Buenos Aires.  It is finally auctioned off in August 1820, and adjudicated to Don José Manuel Solares. 
In this manner, before long and in virtue of his natural working capacity and sense of aptitudes, Solares had managed to dominate the handling of the rural complex.  He became acquainted with the minutest aspects, and knew the names of all his workers, leasers and caretakers, becoming aware of their skills, virtues and defects. 

Not long before his death, and due to not yielding a line of descent, he defines his wish to create a village by means of his Last will and testament. The village would be situated in the proximity of the Jesuit constructions, which he would initiate by means of donating plots of land to “the poor that denoted notable honour”, the musicians of the church, authorities, etc. He therefore designated a sector of the property for this purpose that accounted for a surface area of 70 squares, located close to the cultivated lands and the residence. 

This sector of the city was not included within the litigation that arose after the death of Don José Manuel Solares in 1868. The trustee Telésforo Lozada sells it to Don Galo Cámara. 
The purchase is ratified in favour of Doña Manuela Lozada de Cámara, who in 1879 sells the Estancia to her brother, Don Rafael Lozada.  This gave way to a law suit initiated by Don Galo Cámara's sons, for the purpose of regaining possession, which finally ruled in their favour. 
On January 14th 1900, the Provincial Government creates the Municipal Town Hall, and Don Domingo Lepri becomes the first elected Mayor.  In 1905, the division of what would be the heart of the Jesuit Estancia was split into three major sectors. 

In 1906, Guillermo Franchini purchases 100 hectares for the Tierras y Hoteles Company, linked to the railways and currently known as the district of El Alto, and he divides the Carlos Pellegrini Village into lots that were almost totally designed and sold in Buenos Aires. The Sierras Hotel is built and inaugurated in 1908, after which the tourist activity commences in Alta Gracia.  On June 28th, 1940, on reaching 10.000 inhabitants, Alta Gracia is raised to the city rank by means of law 3849. 

Many significant personalities have passed through and have become a part of this beautiful city, such as the Spanish Musician, Renovator of Hispanic Music “Don Manuel de Falla”, as well as the Hero of the Cuban Revolution “El Che Guevara”, both of whom had a museum created in their memories.