About Argentina
Buenos Aires
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| Buenos Aires (Congreso) | | Buenos Aires (Obelisco) | | Buenos Aires (Retiro) |
| Buenos Aires (La Boca) | | Buenos Aires (Palermo) | | Buenos Aires (San Telmo) |
| Buenos Aires (Puerto Madero) | | Buenos Aires (Plaza de Mayo) | | Buenos Aires
(Gardel singing Tango-Yira 1930) |
| Buenos Aires (Monserrat) | | Buenos Aires (Recoleta) | | |
LOCATION: The City of Buenos Aires is the capital of the Argentine Republic and is located in the southern hemisphere, latitude 34º 36’ and longitude 58º 26’. The city extends on a plain and has 202 square kilometers (78.3 sq miles). Approximately 3 million people live in this city. Including the metropolitan area, the total population of Buenos Aires is above ten millions, making it one of the 10 most populated urban centers in the world. Buenos Aires has 3,500 restaurants, 200 cinemas and 173 theaters. Last year 5,250,000 tourists visited Buenos Aires.
HISTORY: Buenos Aires was founded twice:
The first foundation was in 1536. Don Pedro de Mendoza, a Spanish colonizer, established the first settlement. He named it Ciudad del Espíritu Santo y Puerto Santa María del Buen Ayre. The second, and final, foundation was in 1580. Juan de Garay called the site Ciudad de Trinidad.
In the 19th century, the port was the arrival point for the great migratory wave promoted by the Argentine State to populate the nation. Spanish, Italian, Syrian-Lebanese, Polish and Russian immigrants provided Buenos Aires with the cultural eclecticism that is so characteristic of the city.
During the 20th century, successive immigrations - from the provinces, other Latin American countries and Eastern countries – completed the picture of Buenos Aires as a cosmopolitan city in which people with different cultures and religions live together.
CUSTOMS: Buenos Aires has always been an open-door city. Its inhabitants are called porteños, which makes reference to the fact that the city is a port. The inhabitant of the province of Buenos Aires is called bonaerense. Porteños are warm and hospitable: they usually invite tourists for lunch or dinner at their homes and prepare typical food.
The characteristic infusion is the mate. It is prepared by pouring warm water into a gourd, also called mate that contains yerba mate. Some people add sugar, but most prefer "un amargo" (without sugar).
What a person invited to eat should know:
— It’s common practice to compliment the cook and propose applause for the asador, the person who prepared the asado (barbecue).
— Toasts are very frequent. The expression used as a toast is “salud” (cheers).
— If invited to dinner, consider the conversation may prolong well into the night.
— Guests usually wear casual attire, and also bring a bottle of wine or some other beverage.
LANGUAGE: The official language is Spanish. Something to note is the use of vos (you) instead of the Spanish tú for informal treatment, and the use of che to address a person.
Currently, Buenos Aires receives tourists from varied nationalities that come for different purposes. Some come to shop, others to enjoy the nightlife and some others to taste the porteños bohemian lifestyle. Also, there are those who engage in an educational tour and want to study the Spanish language.
Several entities, academies, institutions and universities (among them the language Laboratory at the University of Buenos Aires) teach Spanish to foreign people, from beginner to advanced levels, or provide specialization on a specific field.
The porteños easily understand persons who speak Italian and Portuguese. Most people involved in tourist activities speak English.
RELIGION: Argentina recognizes the freedom of worship. The official religion is that of the Roman Catholic Church, represented by an important number of churches. There are also other places of public worship, such as the Jewish central synagogue, the only site providing training to rabbis from all around the world, and the Mosque of Palermo neighborhood, the largest Islamic temple in Latin America.
GASTRONOMY: In Buenos Aires you can enjoy food from different regions and several typical specialties. The city has specific areas where you can choose from a wide range of restaurants.
Costanera Norte and Puerto Madero districts are renowned because of their parrilladas (barbecues). Avenida de Mayo surroundings is the place to taste Spanish food. The most traditional pizzas can be found in Corrientes Ave. Plaza Cortázar, Palermo Hollywood, Recoleta and Las Cañitas neighborhoods offer gourmet specialties: elaborated, refined and exotic dishes.
BARBECUE
Eating a steer barbecue is a deeply rooted custom in Argentina. Each step to take in making a good barbecue constitutes an almost ruled ceremony. Savoring a barbecue takes three stages: first of all Argentine style sausages and blood sausages (made of lightly seasoned pork and steer meat), then a combination of grilled beef sweetbreads such as veal kidney, veal sweetbread, tripe or small intestines, and finally, very juicy red meat. Alternatively, grilled chicken as well as young pork are also included.
The typical barbecue dressing is called «chimichurri», which is a kind of tasty sauce made of different spices and natural vegetables (garlic, red pepper, parsley, oregano, chili pepper, thyme, onion and laurel) mixed with water, vinegar, sugar, salt and oil. This regional dish is best served with delicious salads made of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, boiled eggs and potatoes, to name just a few. Red wine is a must on this occasion.
A little bit of history…
Ancient ranchers or «gauchos», as they were called at that time, had very particular ways to make barbecues. The phrase «chuparse los dedos» (to suck one’s fingers) comes from those times and means that the barbecue is mouth-watering. Its origin goes back to «gaucho» times: the only piece of cutlery that «gauchos» carried as they rode through the huge and lonely «Pampa» (high plains) was a «facón» (knife). When eating, they sliced a piece of meat right off the grill, held it with one hand and cut a smaller piece with his «facón», which he ate with his fingers. It is very likely that this expression originated from this practice.
RIB EYE-STEAK
Those who have tasted a juicy rib eye-steak know that it is an unforgettable pleasure. Being juicy and tasty, it is best served with French fries or with a salad made of your choice of ingredients: tomatoes, carrots, eggs, string beans, olives, lettuce, potatoes, celery, beetroot, mushrooms, apples, nuts, onions.
EMPANADAS (turnover pies)
The delicious filling of meat cut with a knife and wrapped in a thin slice of hand-made dough constitutes a deeply rooted culinary practice all over the country. No other traditional dish has had as many variations as this one in each Province in Argentina, where special ingredients are added to the filling. Thus, a certain kind of «empanada» is related to a specific region in the country.
Buenos Aires as a cosmopolitan city has plenty to keep you busy and interested in what it has to offer. Some places of interest are listed below as a sample of its variety.
Recoleta
This stylish neighborhood with green lush parks, huge hundred year old trees shading sidewalk cafes, French style architecture and art galleries welcome the afluent locals and tourists. On weekends, artisans set-up their stands all throughout Plaza Francia, where they sell all kinds of goodies including jewerly, canddles, local instruments, and paintings.
Recoleta Cemetery
The Recoleta Cemetery is the oldest and most aristocratic cemetery in the city. Its almost 6 hectares (14,000 acres) include the tombs and mausoleums of Independence patriots, presidents of the Republic, military people, scientists and artists. Among them, Eva Perón, Adolfo Bioy Casares and Facundo Quiroga. The crypts and mausoleums were the work, in many cases, of famous architects and are adorned with sculptures. More than 70 mausoleums were declared National Historic Monument. The cemetery is located on the land granted by Juan de Garay to Rodrigo Ortiz de Zárate, a member of the colonizing expedition. Later, the Frailes Recoletos convent was built there. In 1822, after the monks were expelled as a consequence of the General Reform of the Ecclesiastical Order, the orchard of the convent became a cemetery. Its layout was designed by the French engineer Próspero Catelin, and was remodeled during the government of the City Mayor Torcuato de Alvear, in 1881. The architect Juan Antonio Buschiazzo made this remodeling. The Italian sculptor Giulio Monteverde created the Christ that presides the chapel.
Palermo
This park is located in Palermo neighborhood, bordering Libertador avenue. It has more than 80 hectares full of aged forests.
It was developed in 1874, promoted by the President of the Nation at that time Domingo F. Sarmiento. The design was in charge of the architect and landscaper Carlos Thays, who finally inaugurated the park in November of 1875.
Commonly known as Bosques de Palermo, it is one of the big green spaces in the city. Two artificial lakes border the vegetation. You can go through aquatic birds and plants by boat or water bike.
Additionally, you can enjoy many subspaces, like the “Poets Garden” provided with sculptures by different plastic artists, the “Andalusian Yard” covered with trees foliage and the “Roses Garden” commonly known as El Rosedal with 15,000 rose bushes and plants of 1,189 different species.
Plaza Dorrego market
Plaza Dorrego market, in San Telmo neighborhood, has been in place since 1970. Initially, only antiques were offered. Today, it is a traditional place where Argentine and foreign tourists may take a walk. Every Sunday, around eight thousand people fill the square and a great variety of objects are offered in the 270 stands of the market.
On Sundays, in the streets surrounding the square, you can see different artistic tango and folklore shows in addition to plastic artists’ exhibitions. The market is in the heart of the traditional San Telmo neighborhood where many of its old big houses of the 19th. Century were recycled to become antiques shops and first class restaurants.
This market offers from “fonolas” (old record players), second-hand books, tango records and sold-out magazines to valuable antiques, costume clothes, mantillas and embroideries. Additionally, you can get tango dance lessons at the center of the square.
Manzana de las Luces
The Jesuits settled down here in 1633. The “Company of Jesus” built several buildings, some of which still remains here: the Procuraduría de las Misiones (Prosecutor’s Office in the Jesuit Missions), the Casa de Renta (Income House) and the Prosecutor’s House. After Jesuits were expelled, in 1767, these buildings hosted the old Buenos Aires University - Medicine Academy and Hard Sciences Department and the House of Representatives - National Legislature and Congress. In 1822, the “El Argos” newspaper named it “La Manzana de las Luces” (the block of lights) in honor to the "illuminist" doctrine followed by those educative institutions that several years before had been there in place. The set of buildings also presents tunnels built in the XVIII century to connect the Cabildo (government’s cradle in the colonial period and currently a museum) and the Cathedral with the San Ignacio, San Francisco, Santo Domingo, San Juan, Del Salvador churches, the old Irish convent, the Capuchinas monastery, the Vice-queen’s house, the Socorro de la Recoleta and other surrounding buildings. These originally defensive tunnels were then used for smuggling activities. Today, you can visit some of them. Everyday, at the Manzana de las Luces, you can enjoy cultural activities and a handicraft market.
Mataderos Fair
This fair was created in 1986 as a space to show handicrafts and promote Argentine popular traditions. It is located opposite to the National Market of Cattle, a historic monument, between Lisandro De La Torre Street and De los Corrales avenue. You may find a wide variety of stands surrounding the Resero monument. This market is divided into three areas: traditional handicrafts, artistic festivals and gaucho abilities. Different activities are organized, such as lectures, exhibitions, videos, competitions, and traditional games for kids and adults, popular dances and regional food. The exhibition of gaucho abilities includes “jineteadas” (similar to a rodeo), “doma” (horse breaking) and “carrera de sortijas” (a horse race). Free workshops of weaving loom, guitar, wood engraving, folklore and tango dance, among others, are also organized. Every Sunday since 1:30 pm, you may see folklore shows.
Botanical Garden
Inaugurated in 1908, the Botanical Garden was designed towards the end of the 19th. Century by the French landscape designer Carlos Thays to help accomplish university studies and to classify botanical species. This park – 87,000 m2 or 104,000 sq yards – houses more than 5,000 species of the whole world. Three styles of flora are represented in this garden. The Symmetric style of French inspiration can be found on the plain near Santa Fe Avenue. The Landscape style of English origin is represented by the gorge facing Las Heras Avenue. Finally, the Mixed style is present at the central area of the Garden. The Argentine flora is located at the most important place, where characteristic species of each province are exhibited. The rest of the areas include species of each continent. Other points of interest are the Roman Garden with a bronze sculpture replica of the Loba Romana (Roman She-wolf); and the art-nouveau style Main Greenhouse that received an award in Paris, in 1899, before being transported to its current location. You can also participate in the Gardening School “Cristóbal Hicken” and visit the Botanical Museum. Both reside in the premises built by the engineer Jordán Wysocky. The numerous sculptures exhibited in the Garden were made by renowned Argentine artists.
National Museum of Decorative Art
The architecture style of this building is one of the most beautiful in the city. The National Museum of Decorative Art houses around 4,000 works and organizes exhibitions, conferences, workshops, courses and guided tours.
Obelisk
A symbol of Buenos Aires city, the Obelisk was built in May 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first foundation of Buenos Aires. It rises at the place where the Argentine flag was hauled up for the very first time.
It is more than 67 meters high and 49 square meters wide on its base. It has only one entrance and there are four windows at the apex that you can reach only through a straight staircase of 206 steps.
In order to build the obelisk, 680 cubic meters of concrete were used and 1360 square meters of white stone were brought from the province of Córdoba. In 1938, after some stones got detached, the white stones were completely removed and replaced with polished concrete. The work was in charge of the architect Alberto Prebisch.
It is located at the crossroads of 9 de Julio and Corrientes avenues. Lines C and D of the subway operate under this monument.
Government House
Buenos Aires City Hall is located opposite to the Cabildo (government’s cradle in the colonial century and currently a museum). This is one of the buildings that borders the historical Plaza de Mayo square. Today, it is the seat of Buenos Aires city government. It was formerly the site of the Municipal Intendance. It was built between 1891 and 1902 by the architect Juan Cagnoni. The plot was donated to the General José de San Martín for his military conquests.
When inaugurated, the building dome showed a needle longer than the current one, but it had to be demolished. The French academics style with Italian elements combine mansard roofs, like many of the buildings on Av. de Mayo avenue.
Casa de la Cultura
Inaugurated in 1896, this building has a French academicism style, projected by engineers Gainza and Agote. On the first floor, the Gold Saloon is in place. It is an exact sample of a Versailles Palace Saloon. It was the building of "La Prensa"” newspaper and thus it had been provided with transmitters and receivers of news cables and telephones before the beginning of the XX century. The upper part of the building ends with a bronze statute, 55 meters high, holding a torch and a written page, as a symbol of the press freedom. The right hand holds a lamp used to spread the more important news and as a lighthouse to ships coming to the port. Today, the building is a part of Buenos Aires City Hall.
SAFETY: Buenos Aires is a safe city, but as in any other big city in the world, the tourist should take some precautions. For example, avoid leaving your purse or bag hanging from chairs in public places, as well as walking at night along poorly lit areas.
TOURIST OMBUDSMAN: If, during your visit, you suffer some kind of abuse or discrimination, communicate whit the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302 7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
SANITARY INFORMATION: Vaccination is neither obligatory nor necessary to visit Buenos Aires since the city is safe from the sanitary viewpoint. The public water supply is reliable. Public hospitals - available for tourists – offer a 24-hour emergency service, without charge. Argentine physicians are considered excellent professionals worldwide.
The ambulance emergency service (SAME) is also for free.
Buenos Aires - Average Temperatures | Spring Oct - Dec | High 80 F
Low 50 F |
| | Summer Jan - Mar
| High 86 F
Low 55 F |
| | Fall Apr - Jun | High 72 F
Low 41 F |
| | Winter Jul - Sep | High 65 F
Low 41 F |
