Monday, November 9, 2009

What to visit in Buenos Aires

Congreso / Avenida de Mayo / Plaza de Mayo

Small “plazas” that lead to the largest one at the front of the Congress building. Each of these plazas has its own monument or statue."Le penseur" by Rodin and "The Monument of the Two Congresses” an allegory that represents the Andes range, the main rivers and the plains.
Avenida de Mayo runs from the Congress to the Plaza de Mayo. It is a wide tree- lined avenue which marked Buenos Aires` transformation from a big village to a modern city. The magnificence of the once rich country shown in the buildings along this avenue. A must see stop: the “Tortoni”

The Plaza de Mayo was in colonial times the political, economic, social and cultural site of the city and the buildings still reflect the way the country developed in the late XIX and early XX century. For the Argentines, this Square brings back memories of historic events and vivid Images of the very near past.

La Boca / San Telmo

La Boca is a heavily toured district that fascinates visitors with its bright yellow, red and blue houses. The old tenements where dozens of families shared home and the tango spirit along“ Caminito Street”.

San Telmo`s current bohemian character stands out at the antique fair held in its most popular place, plaza Dorrego. Area where the rich families had comfortable homes they abandoned later. See the dancers move amid the crowd to the music of tangos and milongas.

Palermo Viejo

Palermo Viejo, keeper of the best porteno traditions, where large centuries old houses, aged trees and magical flowered and perfumed alleys are a refugee for artists, designers and bohemians.At the very beginning, a middle - class outskirt, worthy of tango lyrics and of the pen of writers. Nowardays, Palermo Viejo houses the bohemian and creative spirit of the city: antique shops blend with modern aesthetic avant garde designs, while a great variety of bars and restaurants featuring different styles in this neighbourhood.

Recoleta district

Today this is the most expensive real estate in the country. Beginning of the XX Century, it was built to be the "Paris of South America". Well designed avenues, big mansions, spacious green areas.The best shopping area in the city. The star of the district for the tourists is, no doubt, the Cemetery Surrounding this "City of the Angels" the Recoleta Cemetery has hundreds of mausoleums and tombs crowded onto each street. The central streets are treelined, while other outlying streets have little light and room. The most visited mausoleum Eva Péron ("Evita") , to the pride of the commoners who loved her, and unhappiness of the elite classes she alienated.

Retiro Area: Plaza San Martin`s big mansions - Florida Street.

This area is the most frequented one by the foreign tourists because most of the main hotels in the city are there and plenty of the best shops can be found in its surroundings. The famous Arg. Big Ben donated by the British Community to the government of the city of Buenos Aires.Not many of the tourists discover a wonderful Basilica or visit the several Mansions built by the wealthy class who enjoyed living in Palaces in the turn of the century. Shopping area but also a beautiful neighbourhood to walk.

Keep reading on Argentina Tourism.

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