Buenos Aires Attractions

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The Cabildo

Cabildo

Opposite the Casa Rosada on the Plaza de Mayo is the resplendent former Spanish town hall, the Cabildo, a fascinating old colonial building fronted by arches that once encircled the plaza, back during the May Revolution in 1810. The guards outside the building are members of the revered Regimiento de Patricios, which was formed in 1806, and the changing of the guard every hour is a popular attraction. They still wear their traditional uniforms, designed nearly 200 years ago. The interior houses a small museum, which displays some interesting architectural relics, religious icons as well as watercolour paintings by Enrique Pellegrini.

Address: Calle Bolívar 65; Telephone: (011) 4334 1782; Transport: Metro to Plaza de Mayo, Cathedral or Bolívar; Opening time: Tuesday to Friday 12.30am to 7pm, Sunday 2pm to 6pm; Admission: $1

Casa Rosada © Andrew Allison

Casa Rosada

One of the world's most famous balconies juts out of Argentina's Presidential Palace, known as the Casa Rosada. The pink building has been the scene of many a political rally, particularly during the regime of the notorious and tragic Juan and Eva Peron. The Italian style building, fronted with palm trees and fountains, was painted pink when it was converted from a Customs and Post Office building into the presidential palace. President Sarmiento decided to appease opposing political parties by merging red and white into a pink colour scheme for the palace. Today the building houses a small basement museum displaying some presidential artefacts. Each evening a small platoon of mounted grenadiers emerge from the guardhouse to lower the flag on the Plaza, adding a touch of pomp and ceremony to the pretty building.

Address: Hipólito Yrigoyen 219, Plaza de Mayo; Telephone: (0)11 4344 3802; Transport: Metro to Plaza de Mayo; Opening time: Museum: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Sundays 2pm to 6pm. Guided tours are available; Admission: Free

Catedral Metropolitana

Cathedral Metropolitana

Other important buildings around the Plaza de Mayo include the Neoclassical Cathedral Metropolitana, which houses the tomb of General José de San Martin, the revered hero who liberated Argentina from the Spanish. The cathedral was periodically rebuilt and renovated since the foundation stone was laid in the 16th century. The current structure was finally completed in the mid-19th century. The interior has recently been renovated and the gilded columns, Venetian mosaic floors, and silver-plated altar are in pristine condition.

Address: San Martín and Rivadavia streets, Plaza de Mayo; Telephone: (0)11 4331 2845; Transport: Metro to Bolívar, Catedral, or Plaza de Mayo; Admission: Free

Tomb of Evita Peron © Andrew Allison

La Recoleta Cemetery

An unlikely tourist attraction, La Recoleta Cemetery is well worth visiting to see its magnificent display of monuments and the ostentatious tombs of Argentina's rich and famous. One of the more modest, but by far the most celebrated, is the grave of Eva Peron. Every day thousands of visitors come to leave flowers at the door of the Duarte family mausoleum, where she is buried. Forty years on, Evita remains both the most revered and reviled figure in Argentina. Love her or loathe her, her spirit lives on in La Recoleta.

Address: Calle Junín, Plaza Francesa; Website: www.info-recoleta.com; Opening time: Open daily. Guided tours are available; Admission: Free

Informal tango in Plaza Dorrego © Judith Duk

Plaza Dorrego

Plaza Dorrego lies in San Telmo, the bohemian artists' quarter and the birthplace of tango. The tiny square is surrounded by elegant houses, now mostly converted into antique shops and bars whose tables overflow onto the street. On Sundays the plaza is the setting for the ancient antique market, the Feria de San Pedro Telmo. Though you are unlikely to discover any bargains you may find an interesting souvenir or two. The stallholders pack up their wares at 5pm and the square becomes the setting for informal tango dances. This is as popular with the locals as it is with tourists and even the inexperienced may be tempted to try it out. There are numerous museums nearby the plaza worth visiting, including the Museo Histórico Nacional and the Museo de Arte Moderno.

Teatro Colón

The Teatro Colón opened in 1908 is the second largest performing arts theatre in the southern hemisphere, second only to the Sydney Opera House in Australia. It was designed by Italian architect Francisco Tamburri and is an Italian Renaissance-style building with a seating capacity of 2,500 (although more people have been squeezed in at a time). It has hosted many international performers including Nijinsky, Pavlov, Pavarotti and Domingo. Guided tours take visitors to the theatre's workshops, rehearsal rooms, auditorium and stage.

Address: Cerrito 618; Telephone: Guided tours: (0)11 4378 7132/33, ticket office: (0)11 4378 7344; Website: www.teatrocolon.org.ar; Transport: Metro to Carlos Pellegrini station; Opening time: The theatre is currently closed for renovations until May 2008

Caminito, La Boca

La Boca

La Boca ('the mouth') is the most colourful neighbourhood or barrio in Buenos Aires, original home of football legend Diego Maradonna and the tango. An assortment of brightly painted low houses made of wood and metal line the streets, including the famed main street Caminito, in this poor but happy area full of artisans, painters, street performers, cantinas and open-air tango shows. The neighbourhood was originally settled by Italian immigrants, most of whom came to work in the docks. Today it is frequented by crowds of tourists who come to soak up the atmosphere.

Floralis Genérica

Floralis Generica is a working metal sculpture located on the United Nations square in Recoleta. It was offered to the city by Argentine architect Eduardo Fernando Catalano, who described it as an environmental structure. Its metallic petals open and close based on the incidence of solar rays and visitors to the site will find the giant metal sculpture 'in full bloom' in the heat of the day and closed at night. The sheer genius of the giant flower makes it a sight worth seeing.

Address: United Nations Park, Recoleta

Nueve de Julio Avenue

At 127 metres wide, Avenida 9 de Julio is claimed to be the widest avenue in the world, honouring Argentina's Independence Day which falls on 9th July. The avenue runs from the Retiro district in the north to Constitucion station in the south, roughly one kilometre to the west of the Rio de la Plata waterfront and consists of 18 lanes of traffic, nine on each side. In the middle of the street stands a 67-metre-tall obelisk marking the heart of Buenos Aires. Visitors can climb to the top where they can look out over the Avenida 9 de Julio through its four observation windows.

Address: Avenida 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Zoo

Home to over 350 animal species and known for some of its exotic breeding, the Buenos Aires zoo is the perfect place for families, a romantic date or tourists. With nine species of mammals, 49 species of reptiles and 175 species of birds, the zoo's goals are to conserve species, produce research and educate the public. Disposable cameras are on sale and professional photographers are on standby to capture all the memories. Animal food can be bought at the entrance and other stations located around the zoo to encourage visitors' interaction with the animals. The best time to visit the zoo is on a sunny weekday afternoon, when time can be spent lounging in front of the white tiger enclosure, for which the zoo is well-known, or elephant house with only a few other people to contend with for the best view.

Address: Ave Sarmiento and Ave Las Heras; Telephone: (0)11 4011 9900; Website: www.zoobuenosaires.com.ar; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 10am. Open daily during school holidays; Admission: General admission (Entrada general) is $8 or the more advanced pass (pasaporte) is $14.90