San
Telmo is one of the most typical neighbourhoods
in Buenos Aires. Situated south of the city, it
retains its houses that date back to colonial times,
as well as its streets with paving stones. It was
inhabited by aristocratic families until the yellow
fever disease in 1871. WE RECOMMEND VISITING: Plaza
Dorrego San
Pedro Telmo Church El
Viejo Almacén
As
it was born around the city’s primitive port, San
Telmo was soon invaded by the XIXth century immigration
wave, with which its streets’ physiognomy started
to change notoriously. Large houses belonging to well-connected
people turned into “conventillos” (tenement
houses), housing numerous families who had occupied them
and lived crammed together. These immigrants, mainly devoted
to crafts and commerce, imprinted their customs to this
place, that was since then characterised by its street
markets and its commercial trend.
Since 1970, San Telmo started to regain its worth. Old
buildings were renovated and many of its buildings, with
over 100 years of history, were declared Historical Heritage
of the City.
At present, it is a neighbourhood with an ample cultural
display. Proof of this are art, cinema and television
schools, as well as many antique shops and a street market
that takes place during the weekends. Here, the visitor
may buy beautiful antiques, ranging from a pasta record
to the furniture for an entire house. Also during the
weekends, there are free tango shows, where the tourist
may enter in contact with Buenos Aires’s typical
music.
Plaza
Dorrego (Dorrego Square) A historical spot where carriages used to stop,
Plaza Dorrego is today the neighbourhood’s centre.
After Plaza de Mayo, it is the oldest square in the city.
Antique shops, fine artists and many tourists gather around
the street market on Sundays.
San
Pedro Telmo Church Located in 378 Humberto Iº street. It was
built by the Jesuits around 1734.
El
Viejo Almacén (The Old Grocery Store) Situated in Balcarce as it corners with Independencia
street. It is a tango spot devised by singer Edmundo
Rivero. The corner without “ochava” (building’s
corner) is very picturesque. It once was a grocery store,
a winery and Volga restaurant. On its Independence street
facade there are hoops from where horses were tied.
Its
port and colourful setting makes La Boca one of
the most picturesque neighbourhoods in the city.
It has been depicted by artist Quinquela Martín
in paintings that reflect the zone’s laborious
atmosphere. WE RECOMMEND VISITING: Caminito
Street Museum "Quinquela
Martín" Fine Arts Museum Wax
Museum Boca
Juniors Club Football (Soccer) Stadium
Its peculiar building characteristics and customs reflect
the noticeable influence of European citizens, mainly
Genoese Italians, who settled here during the big immigration
wave to Argentina, between 1860 and 1910. La “Piccola
Italia”, as it is also called, is impregnated with
a Mediterranean style, from its gastronomy, offered in
traditional Italian-style canteens, to its architecture.
What is most characteristic of La Boca are its multi-coloured
houses made of zinc-corrugated metal sheets, many of which
are now tenement houses where numerous families live.
The colours of houses give the neighbourhood its distinctive
seal, depicting life in this place, inhabited –from
its very origins– by humble and working people.
Immigrants living here were, in general, poor people and
not being able to buy materials to decorate their houses’
facades, they asked dockyards for their leftovers from
ship painting. Such is the tradition of houses in La Boca,
that today they are true exponents of popular architecture.
Another prominent feature of this neighbourhood are its
sidewalks elevated with respect to the streets, built
in that way to avoid flooding by Río de la Plata
rises.
It is advisable to explore La Boca during daytime, when
it has a life of its own and on Sundays when lots of activities
are organised for tourists.
Caminito
Street Museum
Open Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This is a
traditional visit, where fine artists, photographers and
tango couples, display their arts outdoors, with the peculiar
colourfulness of metal sheet houses as setting. In addition,
there are street markets where all kinds of crafts are
offered.
"Quinquela
Martín" Fine Arts Museum Located in 1835 Pedro de Mendoza Avenue. Tel.4301-1080.
The recently-renovated museum is built in a colourful
public school highland. There are more than 700 works
of art on display by the notable painter Benito Quinquela
Martín, who succeeded in depicting La Boca’s
typical beauty.
Wax
Museum Located in 1261 Del Valle Iberlucea street. Tel.
4303-0563. You may see the country’s most outstanding
personalities, reproduced in wax figures. Scenographies,
episodes and situations serve as a framework to situate
wax figures, thus making them seem even more natural.
Boca
Juniors Club Football (Soccer) Stadium
Located between Roca Railway Tracks and the following
streets: Del Valle Iberlucea, Brandsen, Aristóbulo
del Valle’ prolongation. It may not be a place to
explore, but it is definitely one to stand out, due to
its rare shape it is called the “Bombonera”,
after its similarity to a candy box.
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ALOJARGENTINA - Travel and Tourism Agency - File No. 11774 Provision No.
1280
Plaza
Dorrego
