City Tour around Capital Federal

An excellent proposal to have an idea of the most interesting places of the city is to go on a guided city tour and get to know some of the secrets of this enigmatic metropoli.

You will start from the hotel you are staying at and head to the very heart of the city. San Martín Square is the first stop. Among its green hillocks, there is a monument paying homage to the fallen soldiers of Malvinas War in 1982. Opposite it, Florida pedestrian street starts- an attractive walk to go shopping and along which thousands of persons working downtown Buenos Aires pass by.

The transfer goes to retiro neighbourhood. During the trip, you can observe the mirror towers called Torres Catalinas Norte, Kavanagh Building and Sheraton Hotel.

In retiro, you will find the Railway Communication Center with Mitre, San Martín and Belgrano railway lines. To the right, you will see Monumental Tower , previously called "Torre de los Ingleses", which has a big clock similar to the Big Ben and which was a present of the British Government.

Along Libertador Avenue, there are many public buildings which are very important and have notable architectural ornaments such as the seat of the National Government -Casa Rosada ( Pink House)-, the School of Law and the School of Social Sciences with neoclasic style.

In Carlos Thays Square, you can observe figures by Bottero, the Palais de Glace and, at the back, you will see the Municipal Center of Exhibitions where world wide known fairs are held.

As you head to Palermo neighborhood, you will pass by Portugal and Greece Ebassies which have clear Renaissance cuts. Further ahead, you will see the Museum of Art, Science and Technology which has important works of art by Antonio Verdi and Frida Kahlo.

Then, you will see the Japanese Garden, where there are beautiful orchids and artifitial lakes full of colorful fish. There, you will also enjoy its picturesque Tea House which makes the place the cultural center of this community in Argentina.

Once in Palermo, you will see the work of architect Carlos Thays who designed the area of parks popularly known as "Los Bosques de Palermo" ( Palermo Woods). Here, there is a lake called "Lago de los Suspiros" ( Lake of Sighs). It is a beautiful artifitial lake surrounded by ancient trees and an elegant rosebush garden among arbors and suspension bridges. In the surroundings, you will see the Planetarium called Galileo galilei which was created in 1967.

On the corner of Libertador Avenue and Dorrego Street, you will observe the Argentinean Racetrack, being evidence of the architectural style of the belle époque where, appart from horse races, important social events take place.

Across the railway track, you will see Islamic Cultural Center called King Fahd with its imposing mosque with room for a thousand and six hundred faithful persons.

Then, you will start going back along the same Avenue to pass by the Zoo of the City. From the trellis you can see the cages with allegorical decorativ motives indicating the country of origin of the animals. Thus, you can observe the Asian Palace for elephants, the Byzantine ruins for flamingoes and the Medievalfortress for tigers.

Departing from that place, you start riding to the South in order to visit Recoleta neighborhood, the city center and later, go to the area where San Telmo and La Boca neighborhoods are located.

Along this stretch, you will pass by the Museum of Decorative Art, Eva Duarte de Perón Monument and the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Recoleta is an aristocratic neighborhood and a must for the tourist due to its varied cultural and entertaining offers. You will pass by Plaza Francia ( France Square), Buenos Aires Design and the Homonimous Cementery where the rests of the ancestors belonging to the most traditional Argentinean families are.

Later, you will go along 9 de Julio Avenue which is the widest avenue in the world being 144 meters wide. To the right, you will observe Colón Theatre, a magnificent building offering opera, ballet and classical music shows

Further ahead, when you reach Corrientes Avebue, the Obelisc is located- unquestionable symbol of Buenos Aires City.

In the heart of the city, legendary Plaza de Mayo ( May Square) is located- epic scenery of The Revolution of May, 1810. In the surroundings, you will see the Cabildo (City hall), the Bank of Argentinean Nation and the Metropolitan Cathedral which has Neoclassic style outside and Renaissance and American Baroque style inside.

You will quickly pass through Monserrat and San Telmo neighborhoods until you reach the most southern city of the tour- La Boca neighborhood, near the brook. The history of this neighborhood is closely related to immigration and tango. It still has paving stoned streets such as "Caminito" and houses painted in striking colors. Many artists and craftsmen come to this area offering paintings and souvenirs with allusive topics of the idiosyncrasy of the inhabitants of the place.

From this spot, the transfer goes to the Northeast and passes by "Puerto Madero", place where the city tour ends. Opposite the boulevard along the recycled buildings, you can visit Sarmiento Frigate, antique school-boat of the Argentinean Army which is anchored opposite dock 3.

Thus, you will have a better idea of the enigmatic and eclectic "Reina del Plata" ( Queen of River Plate).