Buenos Aires Neighborhood

Puerto Madero neighborhood is located by the river and is an extension of the downtown area. It is one of the newest and more stylish areas of Buenos Aires. Old docks and warehouses, previously used to store ship cargos, have been completely refurbished and converted into modern office buildings and luxurious apartments, restaurants and bars.

Places to visit:

• Sarmiento Fragate: Dock 3
• Originally it was an English ship built for the Argentinean government in 1898.
• Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, weekends 9am-10pm. For more information call 4334-9686.

Recoleta is one of the most touristic areas in Buenos Aires. It takes its name from the Franciscan convent that dates back to 1716. It has beautiful Italian and French style buildings and many green areas. It is best known for having the “Cementerio de la Recoleta” (Recoleta Cemetery), very rich in art, history and in luxurious tombs that the most important personality's Argentinean history, such as Dorrego and Evita.Peron are buried.

Near the cemetery, on Junin Street, are many restaurant, discos and bars. Everyday there are many porteños and tourist enjoying themselves until the very early hours of the morning.

In Recoleta many cultural events take place, the Centro Municipal de Exposiciones, is one of the most well know places; this centre hosts book fairs and many other cultural events. On the weekends there is a handicraft market in the park near the cemetery, where you will be able to buy many high quality products or enjoy live music and shows.

Places to visit:

• Cementerio de Recoleta: Junin with Guido. Most important cementary in Buenos Aires where the rich and famous are buried. Founded in 1822 by the "Recoletos" monks. There is also the mausoleum of the Duarte Family to which Eva Peron belongs. Upon entry a map will show who is buried were.
• Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes: 1473 Libertador. Argentina most famous museum. You will be able to see permanently exhibited works from artists such as Renoir, Goya, Gogh and Picasso and expositions by contemporary artists. Free entry open 12:30pm-7:30pm Tues-Fri, weekends 9:30am-7:30pm. For information call 4803-0802.
• Biblioteca Nacional: 2502 Aguero. Houses some of the most important collections of Latin America. They have many unique documents in their possession. Mon-Fri they have guided tours from 9am-5pm.
• For information call 4808-6026.

San Telmo is one of the oldest and more traditional neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. Originally it was called Altos de San Pedro; it was later changed to San Pedro Telmo. This neighborhood was one of the more affected by the yellow fever of 1870. It had an enormous population exodus and deterioration that stopped its growth, as a result many new buildings were not constructed and all the old ones are in place.

San Telmo is also the artist's quarter where Bohemians find large spaces at low rents, but it is also the site of high-density slum housing in conventillos (tenements) once built as single family housing for the capital's elite.

There are many handicraft markets and antique shops. On Sundays you can visit the big antique market or enjoy some of the free live tango shows in Plaza Dorego.

Places to visit:

• Plaza Dorrego: Situated in the heart of San Telmo. Every Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, an antiques market (Feria de San Telmo) takes place were you can find things like jewels, clothes, old coins, and toys or enjoy street performers.
• Museo Penitenciario Nacional: 1378 Humberto Primo. Originally this museum housed a Jesuit convent, when the Jesuits were expelled, it became a women's prison. Entry US$1, open Tues-Fri 2pm-5pm, weekends 12pm-7pm.
• Museo Histórico Nacional: Defensa with Brasil. In this museum you will get an overview of Argentina's history. Entry US$1, open Tues-Fri 10.30am-5pm, Sat 1:30-5:30pm.

La Boca is Buenos Aires most colorful neighborhood. It was built by the Italian Immigrants, mainly from Genova, and until now it is known as "La Piccola Italia" little Italy. La Boca, thanks its name due to that it is situated in the mouth of the Riachuelo River.

The constructions were those of the typical houses with walls of foils, also present in other port areas as Berisso, in La Plata that give the neighborhood an unique physiognomy in the city. The tourist artery of this neighborhood is the picturesque Caminito, street of hardly 100 meters next to the coastal road, in which stand out the countless colors of its constructions, with murals and relief's.

In the streets there are a variety of artists that offer their products and shows. There are some places of tango very exclusive and several Italian taverns, especially on the street Gnocchi. A characteristic element of the neighborhood is the Club Boca Junior, one of the most important of the country that possesses its stadium, The Bombonera (chocolate box), with capacity it for more than 55.000 spectators.

Places to visit:

• Caminito: Most famous street of La Boca, here you will be able to see the very colorful painted houses. Many street performers and other artists are selling their paintings here and performing Tango shows. Normally there is a handicraft market where you can buy typical Argentinean souvenirs.
• Boca Juniors Stadium and Museum: 805 Brandsen. Argentines go crazy for soccer, and no team arouses more passion than the Boca Juniors, traditionally the team of the working class.
• Museo de Bellas Artes de La Boca: 1835 Pedro de Mendoza. A small but nice museum which exhibits works of many Argentinean painters. Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.

Belgrano is a very stylish residential area. It was named after Manuel Belgrano, one of Argentina's forefathers. There are many beautiful mansion, embassies and high rise residential buildings.

Places to visit:

• Avenida Cabildo: Busy street in the heart of Belgrano, were you will find many bars, restaurants and shops. Excellent place to go out and have a good time.
• Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta: 2291 Juramento. There is open air theater performance take place in the beautiful garden. Museum exhibits the work of Enrique Larreta. For information 4784-4040. Entry US$1, open Wed-Fri 2pm-8pm, weekends 4pm-7pm.

Palermo previously was owned by Juan Manuel de Rosas a former Buenos Aires governor. After his fall from power the area became public parkland. Palermo consist of two different area, “Palermo Chico”, little Palermo, full with beautiful parks, a Zoo and the Japanese and the Botanical gardens that has near 7000 species vegetable, and various shopping's and “Palermo Viejo”, old Palermo well knows for its bars, international restaurants and pubs, being an important place for night entertainment.

There are several important monuments in this neighborhood, as that of Garibaldi, in Plaza Italia, that of the Spaniards, which of Urquiza and the one dedicated to Sarmiento, carried out by the French sculptor Rodin. The population of resources in this area concentrates, from middle to high class. These last ones concentrate on the exclusive Little Palermo, near Recoleta. There is a great concentration of buildings, many new, among them some that stand out as one of the highest in South America. In old Palermo, near to Villa Crespo and Colegiales, there are more low constructions, some from the beginnings of the XX Century.

Places to visit:

• Jardín Botánico: 3951 Av. Santa Fé. Contructed by Isakari and Yatsuo Inomata in 1979. In the gardens you can find many different plans from all over the world. Inside the gardens there is a Japanese restaurants and ponds with koi fish. Entry US$1. Open daily from 10am-7pm.
• Jardín Zoológico (Zoo): 2827 Sarmiento. Beautiful, well constructed nineteenth-century Zoo in the centre of Palermo, near la Plaza Italia. It houses many different animal species from South America. Entry $5, open Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, weekends 10am-7pm.
• Palermo Woods: Casares with Libertador. The main green space in the heart of the city. Its woods gather three artificial lakes. Nice place to take walks along the Rosedal, Patio Andaluz and Poet`s garden.

The first settlers gave the name "Retiro" to this place because there was a heritage to retreat (retiro) spiritually, Later on, the name was associated with the enormous railway station that operates there many years ago, trains to all parts of the country left from this station.

There are many chique hotels situated here and you will find the terminals of many buses and train here as well. If you planning to travel to one of the other provinces in Argentina, this is the place from were you will leave?

Places to visit:

• Retiro Station: 1508 Ramos Mejía. The train is the most adequate means of transport to move along the Capital and the most convenient to reach the Gran Buenos Aires. Retiro Station is one of the biggest stations in Latin America.
• San Martín Square: Santa Fe with Maipú. San Martin Square (at the end of Florida) with the statue of General San Martin, work of the sculptor J. L. Daumas carried out in 1862. From this square old palaces can be seen such as, Anchorena (headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry) and "Circulo Militar".
• Torre de los Ingleses (The Englishmen's Tower): San Martín with Libertador. It was built by the British residents in commemoration of the Argentina's Independence Centenary.

Juan de Garay re-founded Buenos Aires in 1580, just north of Pedro de Mendoza's encampment near Parque Lezama. In accordance with Spanish Law, he laid out the large Plaza del Fuerte (Fortress Plaza), later called the Plaza del Mercado (Market Plaza). The Plaza de la Victoria was laid out after the victories over the British invaders in 1806 and 1807. It acquired its present of Plaza de Mayo after the month in which the Revolution of 1810 occurred.

Major colonial buildings in the centre included the Cabildo, part of which still exists and a church at a site now occupied by the Cathedral Metropolitana. Inside the cathedral is the tomb of the repatriated San Martín, who died in France. In the center of the plaza, the Pirámide de Mayo is a small obelisk over an earlier monument, around which the Madres de la Plaza still march every Thursday afternoon in their unrelenting campaign for a full accounting of Dirty War atrocities.

In the centre of Buenos Aires there is always happening something. Busy with people, strolling on the street of Florida, the main shopping street, the hustle of the outrageous amount of traffic during rush hours, and business people working in the commercial buildings.

Here you can walk on the widest avenue in the world, 9 de Julio, and take a look at one of the most famous statues of Buenos Aires, “el Obelisco. Or simply visit Corrientes Avenue, densely populated with theatres, cinemas, restaurants and bookshops.

Places to visit:

• La Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace): 50 Balcarce. Presidential Palace has a world-famous balcony, which has seen Diego Maradona, Evita Peron addressing the crowds at various stages in Argentina's history. Originally a fortress, the Casa Rosada was remodeled as a palace for the Viceroy, when Buenos Aires became the Capital of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata in 1776. A typical example of French and Italian styles, it gained its bright pink color during the presidency of Sarmiento when, in 1873, he chose the colour because it represented both political sectors – red for the federals and white for the opposing Unitarians.
• Plaza de Mayo: In front of la Casa Rosada, you will find this famous square, where many activities take place such as political demonstrations and the march of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo.
• Cabildo museum: 65 Bolívar. Situated on Plaza de Mayo and the only surviving Government building from colonial times, the Cabildo was constructed in 1748. Contains a museum featuring watercolors by Enrique Pellegrini together with the original plans for the city and its fort. Admission US$1, open Tues-Frid 12:30pm-7:pm, Sun 3pm-7pm
• Catedral Metropolitana: On the Plaza de Mayo. Famous Catedral, with beautiful neoclassical architecture, in the heart of Buenos Aires. Inside you will find the tomb of Argentina's most famous hero, General Jose de San Martin. Open every day.
• Palacio de Congreso: 1864 Rivadavia. This Palace houses the chambers of the Legislative Power. Has an outstanding dome, and is beautifully lighted by night. For free guided tours in English, Spanish or French call 4959-3000.
• Obelisco: 9 de Julio Avenue, intersection with Corrientes. Most famous statue in Buenos Aires, it is 67,50 metres tall and the only way to go up is by stairs. Not open for the public.
• Teatro Colon: 621 Libertad. Te. 4382-5414/16. This theatre offers facility for ballet, opera and classical music concerts. It can seat 2.500 people and has a beautiful cupola and “golden room” el Salon Dorado. There are guided tours Spanish and English and take pace during the week between 11am and 3pm, on Saturday at 9am and 12am. For tours call: 4378-7132, for shows call: 4378-7344.