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Being Del Libertador Avenue its main thoroughfare, this neighborhood represents the widest tree-covered area of the city. Its woods with gardens full of flowers make up the biggest green belt of Buenos Aires. There is a variety of magnolias, jacaranda trees, lapachos, pine trees, araucarias and a wide variety of palm trees. It is the ideal outing for Sundays, because round Palermo’s lakes people practice sports, walk through its parks, skate, ride in bicycles or just sunbathe.
Palermo is divided into three areas: “Palermo Viejo”, Palermo Chico” and “Jardines de Palermo”.
Barrio Parque
This neighborhood is part of the area “Palermo Chico”. It is located in Figueroa Alcorta Av. between Tagle and San Martín de Tours streets. It is a luxurious area, with beautiful petit hotels and comfortable apartments of two or three floors. It is a 100% residential area, worth visiting.
Plaza Grand Bourg e Instituto Sanmartiniano (Grand Bourg Square and San Martin’s Institute)
Near the “República de Chile” square, more exactly in front of Mariscal R. Castillo Street, the square Grand Bourg is located. It is located in the area called “Palermo Chico”, comprised by Rufino de Elizalde and A.M. de Aguado streets.
It is a very attractive area, with beautiful trees such as jacaranda trees brought from the province of Misiones, with it lilac flowers. Luxurious apartments and elegant mansions surround this square, some belonging to individuals and other used as central offices of diplomatic foreign embassies.
The “Instituto Nacional Sanmartiniano”, a construction built by the architect José Salas, presents interesting halls worth visiting. There is a library, and the house is a replica of the house where San Martín lived together with his daughter, Mercedes, in Grand Bourg, France, during the last period of his life. It is located in 2800 Rufino de Elizalde St. and it is opened from Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm. Tel: 4802-3311
Embajada de Bélgica (Belgium’s Embassy)
This wonderful French mansion of neoclassic style is located in 2380 Rufino de Elizalde St. This mansion was built by the architect Alejandro Bustillo as the residence of the Tornquist family. In 1932, the building was purchased by the Belgium government as their diplomatic residence.
Its façade, apart from being spectacular, stands out because of its symmetry.
Casa de Victoria Ocampo (Victoria Ocampo’s house)
This amazing large house, similar to a cube, is surrounded by French small palaces built in the aristocratic neighborhood “Barrio Parque”.
This building, modern, rational and almost all white, presents pure lines, wonderful large windows that light up its interior in every corner.
It was built in 1929 by the renowned architect Alejandro Bustillo and was home of famous intellectuals such as Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986), Ernesto Sábato (1911) and Adolfo Bioy Casares (1914-1999) among others; and foreign intellectuals such as André Malraux (1901-1976), Igor Stravinski (1882-1971), Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Rabindranath Togore (1861-1941), Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), Federico García Lorca (1898-1936), Virginia Wolf (1882-1941) and Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957), among many others.
Nowadays, the Argentine businesswoman, Amalita Lacroze de Fortabat, turned it into the cultural central office of the “Fondo Nacional de las Artes” (National Fund of Arts). In 1931 it was used as central office of the magazine “Sur”, promoted by Victoria Ocampo and other intellectuals such as Borges, Gómez de la Serna and Mallea. The cultural Magazine “Sur” was one of the most influential magazines in the country from 1931 to 1971.
The construction of the mansion is attributed to the architect Charles Edouard Jeanneret (1887-1965), known by his penname “Le Corbusier, but this is not true. Victoria commissioned the building of the mansion to Alejandro Bustillo (1889-1982). He was a painter, sculptor and Art History professor and he received many awards in the country and abroad. He conceived the building of Argentina’s national bank (“Banco de la Nación Argentina”, situated in Buenos Aires downtown), Mar del Plata’s casino, Bariloche’s Civic Center the civic center and the Llao Llao hotel, also situated in the city of Bariloche. He published two books: La Belleza Primero (1957) and Buscando el Camino (1965).
The mansion is situated in 2831 Rufino de Elizalde St.
Palacio Alcorta (Alcorta Palace)
This building, located in Figueroa Alcorta Av. and San Martín de Tours St. was built in 1927 by the Italian architect Palanti. In its beginnings, it was occupied by the company Chrysler, where they tested the different vehicles they commercialized. Then, the Arsenal Unit of the Argentine Army took possession of it and finally it was recycled and turned into an elegant apartments’ complex, with a fancy restaurant called “Museo Renault” and a wide space designed to hold events of all sorts, parties, receptions and fashion parades.
Museo de Motivos Argentinos José Hernández (José Hernández Museum)
The aim of this museum is to preserve and spread the cultural folk heritage of the country. In its interior it holds one of the most valuable creole silverware collections from the 18th to the 20th centuries, as well as a wide variety of regional crafts. The museum is located in 2373 Del Libertador Av. and it opens from Wednesdays to Fridays from 1 pm to 7 pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 3 pm to 7 pm. The entry is free on Sundays.
Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA)
The museum is located in 3415 Figueroa Alcorta Av. and it possesses more than two hundred pieces of the private collection of the Argentine businessman, Eduardo Constantini, considered one of the most important of the world. The collection comprises works of talented artists such as Antonio Berni, Diego Rivero, Frida Khalo, Fernando Botero, Diego Rivera, Xul Solar, Emilio Pettoruti, Guillermo Kuitca, Cándido Portinari, Antonio Seguí, Wilfredo Lam and Tarsila do Amaral, among other national and international artists.
The museum is closed on Tuesdays. It opens on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12 pm to 7.30 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. On Wednesdays it opens from 12 pm to 9 pm and the entry is free. The entry is free for students, retired people and children under 12. Tel: 4808-6500
Parque 3 de Febrero o Bosques de Palermo (“Tres de Febrero” Park or Palermo woods)
The “Bosques de Palermo” (Palermo woods) is Buenos Aires’ green belt. It is a park of 62 acres. It is located at only 10 minutes from downtown, with a magnificent lake surrounded by arbors and wonderful vegetation. During the weekends, its streets turn into pedestrian precincts and a great number of people walk through its streets, bridges and pergolas.
The French landscape artist, Carlos Thays, was in charge of the remodeling of the park.
The “Rosedal” is a garden located inside the park since 1914 and it presents a wide variety of rose trees and different kinds of plants.
The “Patio Andaluz” is another beautiful place to visit inside the park. It has a beautiful arbor with a colorful fountain and a pergola, which was a donation from the Seville Town Council. In front of the park’s lake, in the area where small boats are rented, the Plastic Arts Museum “Eduardo Sívori” is located in 555 Infanta Isabel Av. The marble sculpture “El Beso”, by Jean Paul Baptiste Gask, is located in front of this museum. It represents two lovers that are part of the Greek mythology: Leandro and Hero.
This park and its surroundings are visited by local people as well as travelers from all over the world to spend the day there. There are many activities to perform such as sailing, cycling, skating or aerobics.
It is recommended to walk through the area around Infanta Isabel Av., Iraola Av. and Presidente Pedro Montt Av.
Crossing Iraola Av., you get to square Almirante Ramón González Fernández, where the sculpture “El Atleta” is located, a work in marble by the French Henry Greber. The surroundings and the area around Sarmiento, Figueroa Alcorta and Cáceres avenues are decorated with a great variety of trees.
Planetario (Planetarium)
The “Planetario” or Galileo Galilei Observatory, situated in the Galileo Galilei square, around B. Roldán Av. and Sarmiento Av., was built in 1966 by the architect Enrique Jan. Its spherical cupola is clad in aluminum and it allows the projection of images of the sky and its phenomenon as if they were real. Every day, pupils from several schools visit the planetarium. The shows illustrate the origin of the planets and constellations and they recreate sunrises and sunsets.
The museum in the first floor presents exhibitions and offers several planetary rarities such as a lunar rock that was given as a gift by the former American president, Richard Nixon (1913-1994).
The square where the Planetarium is located has been declared a National Historic Landmark and the Planetarium itself was declared Historic Monument.
You can visit this place from Mondays to Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays the shows are at 3 pm, 4.30 pm and 6 pm. The entry is free for children under 7 years old. It is located in Sarmiento Av. and Belisario Roldán St. Tel: 4771-6629/4772-9265.
Estatua de Caperucita Roja (Little Red Riding Hood’s Statue)
This work illustrates the classic children’s story by Charles Perrault. It was made by the French sculptor Jean Carlus in 1937.
Charles Perrault (1628-1703) was a French writer, born in Paris, famous for his children’s stories.
Jardín Japonés (Japanese Garden)
This splendid garden, designed along the classic Japanese landscape spirit, was a donation from the Argentine Japanese Association to the city of Buenos Aires in 1979. You can visit this place every day from 10 am to 6 pm and you have the possibility to buy beautiful plants for outdoors or indoors. The beauty of the place combines neat gardens with lakes with the typical Japanese architecture.
The wide variety of plants, its lakes with beautiful goldfishes, the wooden bridges that join the different small islands, together with its Tea House, offer a very nice outing for the visitor.
It is located in 3401 Casares Av. and is open from 10 am.
Plaza Alemania (Germany Square)
In the center of this attractive square, located in Del Libertador Av., Castex St, Cavia and Casares, the monument “Monumento a la Riqueza Agropecuaria Argentina” is located. It was a gift from the German community in commemoration of the May’s Revolution centennial.
Monumento de los Españoles (The Spaniards Monument)
This monument made of bronze and marble, located in Del Libertador Av. and Sarmiento Av., was a gift by the Spanish community for the centennial of Argentina’s independence.
The monument ends with the Republic’s image, in white marble, symbolizing the new free nation. It is surrounded by four bronze neoclassical figures, representing the Chaco, the Pampa, the Andes and the River Plate regions. Its building lasted for 15 years and its foundation stone was placed by the Infanta Isabel Francisca Asís de Borbón in 1910. The author of this beautiful work of art was the Catalan artist, Agustín Querol, but, after Querol’s death in 1910, the monument was finished by the Spanish artist, Cipriano Folgueras.
Monumento a Sarmiento (Monument to Sarmiento)
In Sarmiento Av. and Del Libertador Av., in front of the colossal “Monumento de los Españoles” and at a few steps from the Japanese Garden, the Monument to Sarmiento (1811-1888) is located. It was a work by the talented French sculptor Auguste Rodin, inaugurated in 1911. Over a Carrara marble base, the bronze effigy of this Argentinean leader rises.
The monument was brought from France and it is placed in what used to be Juan Manuel de Rosas’ house, a military man and politician who belonged to a wealthy and powerful family and governed the city of Buenos Aires from 1829 to 1832.
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, due to his journalistic activity and his confrontation with Rosas first and then with Urquiza, he had to go into exile in Chile and returned to the country in 1868, when he was elected President and was in office 1874.
Monumento a Urquiza (Monument to Urquiza)
The equestrian monument of this political leader is located in Sarmiento Av. and Figueroa Alcorta Av. It is a work by the sculptors Baldi and Roche and was inaugurated in 1958.
Justo José de Urquiza was the first president of the Argentine Confederation after the approval of the Constitution of 1853.
Paseo de la Infanta (Infanta’s stroll)
This original stroll, situated over Infanta Isabel Av. and Del Libertador Av., is built under the railroad bridges. The complex counts with a fast food restaurant, some trendy restaurants, bars, nightclubs.
Monumento a Carlos III (Monument to Charles III)
This sculpture is located in the square General Páez, in front of Sarmiento Av. and in the intersection of Del Libertador Av. and Iraola Av. (Palermo Gardens). The sculpture is in honor of Charles III, the Spanish king who created the River Plate Viceroyalty in 1776. This work of art was inaugurated in 1985, when the king Juan Carlos I and the queen Sofía de España visited the country.
Monumento a Luis María Drago (Monument to Luis María Drago)
It was built in 1934 in the square General Páez and the author was the renowned artist Alberto Lagos.
Luis María Drago (1859-1921), an Argentine politician, was in charge of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1902. He was a politician and lawyer; he formulated the “Drago doctrine”, a classic in international law. According to it, the national debt of a state could not justify an armed intervention or the occupation of the territory by other nations.
Estatua de George Washington (George Washington Statue)
It was a gift by the US government for the May Revolution centenary in 1910. The bronze figure of the first US president is located in front of the US embassy, in Del Libertador Av. and J. F. Kennedy Av. (Palermo gardens) and was moved directly from New York to Buenos Aires.
Monumento a Avellaneda (Monument to Avellaneda)
It was built in honor to Nicolás Avellaneda, who was president of the country from 1874 to 1880. During his presidency, the law which established Buenos Aires as the Country’s capital was passed.
The president’s statue was sculpted in marble and it is erected over a huge stone base, where four feminine figures are looking to the four cardinal points. Surrounded such feminine figures, there are relieves representing the different events linked to the federalization process of Buenos Aires city. This stunning work of art was done by the famous Argentine sculptor José Fioravanti and was inaugurated in 1935, in the area of the Palermo gardens.
Nicolás Avellaneda (1836-1885) was an important politician and was also president of the country from 1874 to 1880. During his presidency, the conquest of the Patagonia was attained (1879) and the city of Buenos Aires was federalized (1880).
Hipódromo Argentino (Argentine racetrack)
President Carlos Pellegrini founded the Jockey Club in 1882, a moment when horse-racing started to develop in the city.
The main building, made of stone and cement, was a work by the French architect Louis Fauré Dujarric.
Nowadays, the horse races are crowded with fans and curious ones. The racetrack is 1100 m long and it has a capacity for 21 horses.
This building is located 4000 Del Libertador Av. and Dorrego Av. and it is used for social events.
Campo Argentino de Polo (Argentine polo field)
Facing the Hipódromo Argentino, over Del Libertador Av. you will find the Argentine polo field, where every November the Campeonato Abierto de la República or Argentino de Polo (a national polo championship) takes place, apart from several tournaments and exhibitions. This sport was introduced in the country by English immigrants in 1870.
Centro Cultural Islámico Rey Fahd (King Fahd Islamic Cultural Center)
This amazing complex located in 55 Intendente Bullrich Av. and Cerviño St., in front of the railroad and near Palermo station, occupies an extension of 8.5 acres and was inaugurated in the year 2000. It counts with a school, exhibition halls, conference halls, a museum, a library and two Islamic mosques.
The minaret, which is the tower from which the faithful are called to pray, and the main cupola are distinguished.
The complex was designed by the Arab architect Zuhair Fayez.
Predio Ferial de la Sociedad Rural Argentina (Argentine Rural Society premises)
Since 1886, the biggest show of cattle farming, agriculture, and industry takes place in these premises every year, among other varied exhibitions.
People from all over the country and the world come to this fair; it is one of the most important and renowned of the world.
It has several entrances: by Santa Fe Av., Sarmiento Av. Cerviño Av., according to the exhibitions or fairs that are taking place.
(Nearest subway station: Plaza Italia – Line D)
Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden)
It has been designed by the architect and landscape designer Carlos Thays in 1898 and it is located in Santa Fe Av., Las Heras Av. and República Árabe Siria St. It has been declared a National Historic Landmark.
It comprises more than 17 acres of green space in the middle of the city, with seven thousand botanical species carefully kept. In the different sectors that make up this garden, there are species of several continents. From Asia, there are species such as ginkgo biloba; from Oceania, acacias, eucalyptus; from Europe, oak trees, hazelnut trees and elm trees; from Africa, brackens, palm trees, date palms and rubber trees. From the US, there are sequoias and from Argentina itself the “tipas”, a native species. It counts with beautiful sculptures such as “La Primavera”, “Ondina de Plata”, “Loba Romana”, “Mercurio”, “Venus”, "Saturnalia"; marble statues that symbolize movements of Beethoven’s VI Symphony named “La Pastoral”. Besides, it counts with a greenhouse, a library, a Botanical Museum and the Public Gardening School, apart from placid and quiet paths to walk by and admire the varied vegetation.
It is recommended to visit the “Jardín Romano” (Roman garden), where you will find species of poplars, elm trees, cypress trees, laurel trees, rose trees, hydras and banana trees among other species from Italy; the “Invernadero Mayor” (the larger greenhouse): to preserve species that require protection against the elements; the “Jardín Francés” (French garden), where you will find ash trees, lilacs, gardenias, honeysuckles and oak trees.
The Botanical garden is located in 3951 Santa Fe Av. and it opens every day from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. Admittance is free.
(Nearest subway station: Plaza Italia – Line D)
Jardín Zoológico (Zoo)
It was founded by Sarmiento in 1875 and it holds a great variety of specimens of native and exotic fauna species, in the different pavilions that reproduce the natural habitat of each species, all in 44 acres. It is situated in the intersection of Sarmiento Av., Del Libertador Av., Gral. Las Heras Av. and República de la India St. It has been named National Historical Landmark.
This zoo offers a different show, if we see the animal’s “houses”, such as the gothic pavilion of the bears and the French palace which hosts the lions. The elephants live in a huge building, an imitation of a Bombay temple.
It is recommended to visit the snakes’ pavilion, the bears’ den, the lion’s den, the elephants, seals, camels, Aldabra turtle, hippo, giraffes, rhinoceros, monkey’s cage, the aquarium, and the rainforest that reproduces the weather conditions and animals that inhabit the sub-tropical rainforest.
In its surroundings, you will see “mateos”, which are carriages driven by ornamented horses and you can go for a ride around the area and especially around Tres de Febrero Park.
From Tuesdays to Sundays, the access is in the intersection of Gral. Las Heras Av. and Sarmiento Av. On Mondays the zoo is closed. Children under 13 have free access. You can visit the zoo from 10 am to 7 pm.
(Nearest subway station: Plaza Italia – Line D)
Plaza Italia
It is located in a busy area where three important avenues come together: Santa Fé, Sarmiento and Gral. Las Heras and around this square you will find three important institutions: the premises of the Argentine Rural Society, The Zoo and the Botanical Garden. In this half-oval square, the monument to Giusseppe Garibaldi stands, a work by the sculptor Maccagnani. During the weekends there is a craft and second-hand books fair.
Las Cañitas (Las Cañitas area)
This picturesque area is located in Palermo and it acquired importance due to the appearance of many restaurants for all tastes and budgets, with a nice atmosphere to enjoy a wonderful night, indoors or outdoors.
Near Las Cañitas, the Argentine Polo Field is situated.
Palermo Viejo - Palermo Hollywood – Palermo Soho
This is the oldest area of Palermo neighborhood. This area used to be, in the old days, a stronghold of Porteños and poets such as Evaristo Carriego and Jorge Luis Borges, as well as a tango “shelter”.
Nowadays, this is a very fashionable area of design, gastronomy and culture. “Palermo Soho” is an area full of new designers’ clothes and design shops (in allusion to New York’s Soho); and “Palermo Hollywood” is an area of recycled houses situated around the small square “Cortázar”, turned into restaurants, pubs and bistros.
The restaurants stand out due to its different styles, some with an extravagant and futurist decoration. There is a wide offer of different types of cuisine, such as international cuisine, Mediterranean, Spanish and Italian food, sushi bar, Mexican food, among others. Draft bear, cocktails, coffees, Spanish and Italian “tapas” (snacks), different salads and sandwiches, pizzas, etc.
After dinner, many restaurants turn into dance floors and others present the Happy Hour (two drinks at the price of one). Besides, there are bars which offer stage presentations, such as plays, jazz, funk and soul concerts.
Costanera Norte
“Costanera Norte”, with a beautiful view of the River Plate, presents a great gastronomic and recreational center over the river, with an attractive pier surrounded by the renowned Costanera Norte Rafael Obligado Av., where you can go for walks admiring the horizon, the sunrises and the different boats that sail through the area. If the day is clear, you can distinguish the coast of Colonia city, in Uruguay.
In one of the piers, the building of the “Club de Pescadores” (Fishermen’s Club) is situated and in front of it you will find the metropolitan airport “Jorge Newbery”, known as “Aeroparque”, from where cabotage flights depart and arrive. In 4550 Rafael Obligado Av., you will find the National Aeronautics Museum.
There are also elegant areas such as “Punta Carrasco” and “Costa Salguero”, fancy restaurants such as “Clo Clo”, “Tago Mago” and “Morena”, a restaurant which is in the pier itself, with a wonderful view of the river.
At night, the best place where to go is “Rivera Este” complex inside Punta Carrasco. It presents different options of restaurants and bars and then it turns into a huge night club.
Theme Park “Tierra Santa”
Tierra Santa is the first religious theme park of the world and its proposal is to travel through time to discover a unique city and its protagonists, reviving the most transcendental moments of Christianity.
In a place of approx. 18 acres, Christ’s life was reconstructed since his birth to his resurrection, recreating the culture and costumes of a town in which Jews, Christians, Romans and Arabs used to lived together. Tierra Santa is an interactive place where the visitors can take part in the different moments of the religious walk: Jesus’ birth, childhood and youth, the Last Supper, the Calvary, his death and resurrection, apart from the costumes of the period (2000 years ago). Each of the thirty houses presents the historical setting of everyday scenes, enhanced by the participation of live actors. A giant nativity scene with more than two hundred and fifty figures crowns the main show with light and sound effects. More than two hundred technicians, engineers, architects and artists take part in this project. You can walk through the park with a catechist guide; the service of audiovox is offered in different languages; or you can walk by the park on your own.
The most important historical moments reproduced in the park are: “the Nativity Scene”, “the Resurrection”, “the Last Supper” and “the Stations of the Cross”, among others. The offer in gastronomy is varied: two pizzerias and two steak restaurants situated in different points of the park; “Betlem Restaurant” (Italian food); “Antar Restaurante” (Arab food); “El Arca de Noé” (Armenian food); “Café Bagdad” (coffee shop and regional desserts); “Salón Al Khaira”, which offers drinks and invites to have a great time.
The park is open from Thursdays to Sundays. It is located in the premises of “Parque Norte” and the entry is in 5790 Rafael Obligado Av., in Costanera Norte.
If you need any further information, please call at 4783-2983/1470/1338 or 4784-9551.
Mercado de Pulgas de Palermo (Palermo’s flea market)
This is a second-hand products’ and antiques fair. It is open from Mondays to Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm and it is located in 1600 Dorrego St.
Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori (“Eduardo Sívori” Plastic Arts Museum)
This museum exhibits Argentine works from the 19th and 20th centuries.
It is located in the Palermo Gardens’ sector. It is open from Wednesdays to Fridays from 1 pm to 7 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 pm to 7 pm. On Sundays the entrance is free.
Feria de Libros Usados de la Plazoleta Santa Fe (Second-hand books’ fair in Santa Fe small square)
The fair is located in Santa Fe Av. and Uriarte St. There are wide offer of send-hand books to buy. It is open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 am to 8 pm. |
