Buenos Aires’ barrios offer unique flavour

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By Hannah Edensor


Unlike some of the world’s great metropolises, Buenos Aires is perhaps not so much a “city” as a collection of distinct neighbourhoods, each displaying their own traits and charms.

A trip to the Argentine capital would not be complete without a visit to some of the city’s most interesting barrios (neighbourhoods).

The alternative barrio:

San Telmo is the city’s oldest barrio and boasts numerous colonial buildings in varying states of disrepair as well as trendy cafes crammed with students and artists. On Saturday evenings in a courtyard of a vacant house near the San Pedro Gonzalez Telmo church, tourists can enjoy live music, chacarera dancing, and local food such as empandas, choripan and grilled sausages in bread.

A barrio of contrasts:

The Puerto Madero occupies a significant section of the Rio de la Plata riverbank and is the location of some of the city’s most modern skyscrapers. The barrio is also home to the Reserva Ecologica de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve), which offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Several nature trails leading to the river are perfect for birdwatching, walking and cycling.

The hipster barrio:

Palermo is the city’s largest barrio and the area of Palermo Soho has been singled out by the New York Times as a favourite haunt of hipsters and designers.

Located between the streets Santa Fe, Coronel Diaz, Cordoba and Juan B Justo, Palermo Soho is home to tree-lined cobblestone streets, Spanish-style houses and converted warehouses. It is the perfect place to drink a coffee in the morning, enjoy a beer in the evening and party through the night.

The historical barrio:

La Boca is a working-class district where the tango originated. Situated at the mouth of the Riacheulo river, the barrio used to consist of shipyards and of the houses of people who worked in them.

Today, tourists are attracted here by La Bombonera, the stadium of Boca Juniors, and Caminito, a painted street that has become a haven for artists.

The elegant barrio:

Considered by many to be Buenos Aires’ richest neighbourhood, Recoleta is not only home to the city’s business district but also numerous sites of historical interest, most notably the El Cementerio de la Recoleta.

The cemetery is the resting place of Argentina’s most important families, including Eva Peron and writer Jose Hernandez.

Another must-see is the opulent Avenida Alvear with its sumptuous 19th century villas and modern shops stocking designer merchandise.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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