Buenos Aires – City Highlights, Argentina (1 of 5)

The capital of Argentina is located on the western shores of the Rio de la Plata. Federalized in 1880, it was granted autonomy in 1994 thus its official name Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The city was founded in the 16th century according to Wikipedia. Its name means Fair Winds. We enjoyed a guided tour of Buenos Aires on 2/18/2023 that included several neighborhoods: Palermo, Recoleta, San Nicolas, Monserrat, Retiro, Puerto Madero, Balvanera, San Telmo, La Bocca. This post is first in a series of five highlighting this eclectic South American city.

My first impression was how dignified, clean, intriguing and cosmopolitan it is. Sculptures adorn parks and intersections memorializing historical events and personalities of its glorious past. Impressive old buildings stop you in your tracks to admire their intricate architecture and carvings. It is reminiscent of a major European city with colonial architecture wrapped in a Latin flavor granting it a unique, unforgettable stamp.

Our first landmark was Floralis Generica, a steel and aluminum structure created in 2002 by Eduardo Catalano. It is equipped with an electrical system allowing it to open every morning and close at night, the system was broken when we visited. We proceeded to Montserrat where a market was being setup in front of St Ignatius church. I walked into beautiful Saint Ignatius, the oldest preserved church in the city. Across from it is a big tree with a huge trunk. Its branches supported by metal beams and one cool statue extended beyond a fence built to protect it. Next stop was Plaza de Mayo where the presidential palace known as the pink house is located. It is an emblem of the city. A number of people were milling about the beautiful plaza amongst the palm trees. It was a beautiful day. The Metropolitan Cathedral is located on one side of the plaza. I made my way to visit the spectacular building (photos in an upcoming post).

We were dropped off at Puerto Madero Waterfront where high rises and restaurants abound. We picked up an excellent shawarma lunch then walked around passing by Puente De La Mujer, the Woman’s Bridge, a 170m swinging bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava. We made our way back to our hotel passing by the Obelisk and several other landmarks.

I enjoyed our first day in historic Buenos Aires seeing and learning of its history. I try to stay and tour the city where we first land when visiting a new country, I like to get a glimpse of the history and culture at the start of the visit. I feel that it helps me appreciate the sites even more by providing a deeper understanding of the events that lead to its creation. Buenos Aires did not disappoint.

References Tripadvisor, Wikipedia

City Highlights