Introduction
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Buenos Aires, the cosmopolitan capital city and gateway of Argentina, is characterized by its architectural beauty, cultural sophistication, the passion of tango dancing, and the warmth of its people.
Buenos Aires is a modern progressive city with many touches from the past. Skycrappers share the cityscape with archictectural beauties of many eras and styles: colonial, renaissance, baroque, gothic, neoclassical, art nouveau, and art deco. As you tour the city you can enjoy hints of Rome, Madrid, Paris, London or Budapest beautifully intermingled with monuments, park plazas, tree-lined avenues and lush gardens.
Each of Buenos Aires’ barrios (neighborhoods) has its own distinctive flavor. La Boca features the conventillos (tenement houses) that were home to Italian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. Colonial architecture and antiques abound in San Telmo. Luxury and sophistication characterize the shops and buildings of Recoleta and elegant Palermo is home to palatial mansions of the early 20th century.
A cultural mecha that always fostered intellectual and artistic pursuits, Buenos Aires today offers a broad range of cultural activities and nighttime entertainment. Museums and art galleries showcase the traditional to the experimental. All musical and theatrical genres take center stage in the city’s many performance venues. The genre which is most unique to Buenos Aires is the tango; its notes are rythmic, its verses nostalgic and its dance is passionate – an experience not to be missed.
Buenos Aires is a multisensory experience. Regardless of your budget, good coffee, delicious food and tasty wine can be savored at any of the hundreds of cafes and restaurants that abound throughout the city. Argentine grass-fed beef is a staple of the Argentine diet; unless you are a strict vegetarian, a good churasco (steak) and/or parrillada (assortment of bar-b-qued meat) should not be missed. Argentina’s varied climates and landscapes has enabled the production of exquisite varietal wines, which make the perfect complement to an Argentine meal.
Multiple options also abound when shopping in Buenos Aires. Numerous artisans’ fairs dot the city (especially on weekends) with jewelry, woolens, small leather goods, wood carvings and many other handicrafts. Famous international name brand stores are intermingled with the small boutiques of the trendy local young fashion designers. The hallmark products to buy are leather goods such as jackets, luggage, and purses because of their high quality and accessible prices for most visitors.
People in Buenos Aires, known as porteños (a reference to the port that was the crucial center of all activity in the 19th and early 20th century), are highly social, outgoing and expressive. You are just as likely to see couples openly hug and kiss in public as seeing two people have a heated argument on the street. Most are body and fashion conscious and pay attention to detail even when casually dressed. Porteños love engaging in lively conversations about national and international affairs, sports, the arts or philosopy. It is not uncommon for them to share indepth personal feelings and opinions even with someone they recently met. Foreign visitors find most porteños warm, friendly and helpful, making their stay in Buenos Aires an enjoyable and memorable experience.
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