A quick trip for the best places in Argentina

Buenos Aires

The Argentinean capital is one of the big cosmopolitan cities of the world, a combination of modernity and dynamism captures the visitor and inspires the desire to return.


Some of its charm is its atmosphere, you can walk for the different areas of a city that seems to live in their own world, you also can sit down in a candy shop to take a delicious tea with a British style, and the best thing is sit down in a coffe, feeling like in Paris, for their atmosphere with dark wood.


The city was founded in 1580 and is located in the western riverside of the "Rio de Plata", it was named this way by the Spanish navigators. In the "Gran Buenos Aires" and its dozens of suburbs live more of 11 million people.






The past

In the beginning, the city was called "Santa María del Buen Ayre", Santa María for the Virgin, and Buen Ayre because the entrance (that later it's became in the port) had a perfect wind to weigh anchor and also to disembark.


The first establishment grew very slowly due to the lack of resources, more of the wild horses and the livestock that quickly had been dispersed. In 1750 only were 14.000 inhabitants. The trade of leathers began to stimulate the population's growth, in 1776 the city became headquarters of the Spanish viceroyalty of the "Rio de Plata", and this impelled more the trade


The Independence, recognized in 1816, was the opening of the free trade with other countries like Great Britain, the biggest period of expansion began after 1860, with a prosperous trade of meats, leathers and grains. Big immigrations began (Spanish and Italian majority), to this change, it was added the construction of the railroad, the trams, the factories of gas and the ports.
In 1880 the city became the federal capital.








The present time

Their atmosphere, their cultural identity, their wide avenues, their streets covered with trees and their magnificent architecture, all of this aren't discovered in one day, because there are many places that grant to the city a very special air.


The "Plaza de Mayo" was where everything began, from this place the city continued extending in semicircles and the Square was the main urban axis. As witness of some of those most important events of the national history, this Square is surrounded by the "Cabildo", The Cathedral and the "Casa Rosa", this calls this way for the pink color of its walls, the senators and other diputies are in the Square of the Congress.
To some few blocks of the "Cabildo" are located some historical constructions that deserve a tour, as the "Church San Ignacio" (the oldest in the city).


At the moment, the growth of the city is quick, with a constant increase of commercial centers, restaurants, hotels and theaters in the area of the north and to the west of the "Plaza de Mayo" The "Avenida de Mayo" (May Avenue) is an important street goes toward the west, until the National Congress.
One of the most important architectural works is the "Theater Columbus", one of those most famous of the world and it is very similar to the big European theaters; there present excellent opera programs and ballet.


In the south is the famous "Barrio de la Boca", it is a colorful area that was the establishment of the first Genoese immigrants and contrasts with the rest of the city. The houses and the streets mark their history and past, among them is "Caminito", it is a path that possesses an own song.






Among the most pleasant areas to visit and to give a small tour is "Palermo" with their parks and surrounded Avenues of trees, besides The Botanical Garden and the Zoological one.


An area that you should not get lost when you travel to this city is the elegant "Belgrano" that today it has an interesting ecological reservation.


Also exist "San Telmo", it is a charming place where the colonial residences have been renovated and they are the home of artisans and artists. Every Sunday in the "Plaza Borrego" takes place the legendary "fair of Antiques of San Telmo", there you will find beautiful pieces.



In Buenos Aires crafts of the whole country can be gotten, as:

- Mates

- Bulbs carved in silver

- Beautifully figured knives

- Leathers

- Skins of first quality









Indexes

Interval Latin America have

Year: 2001

Author: Cristina Juri Arencibia

Title: Argentina, Urban and Country








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