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Buenos Aires is the city which is the capital of Argentina. This is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Latin America and the industrial, cultural, economic and commercial engine of the country. The city has almost 3 million inhabitants, but over 15 million people live in its metropolitan area.
Buenos Aires rises in the north-east of the country in a flat area along the southern bank of the Rio de la Plata in front of the Uruguayan city of Colonia del Sacramento, which is instead located along the northern bank of the river.
THE HISTORY OF BUENOS AIRES
A first settlement on the site where the city of Buenos Aires is located today was founded in 1536 by the Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza. The primitive outpost founded by Mendoza was located in what is now the San Telmo district, south of the city center. The original name was Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre. After the foundation of the city the hostility of the natives made the life of the first settlers hard. Therefore already in 1541, just 5 years after its foundation, the colony was abandoned.
It was only in 1580 that led by Juan de Garay, the Spanish, settled again in the area. Founding the current city of Buenos Aires (Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Buenos Aires). The city grew very slowly and always remained on the edge of the Spanish empire until the 18th century. In fact, it was only in 1776 that it became the capital of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata (Virreinato del Río de la Plata), and subsequently with the independence of Argentina, the capital of the new state.
WHAT TO SEE IN BUENOS AIRES
Buenos Aires today has the reputation of being considered the “Paris of South America” both for its European aspect, with large avenues and stately buildings, and for the lifestyle that the inhabitants of the city have. The central districts of the city are the ones that tourists visit most frequently. You can start from the famous Plaza de Mayo, the administrative center around which the old Spanish colony was built.
In the surroundings of this square there are some places to see: the Catedral Metropolitana, with its neoclassical facade, and the Casa Rosada, residence of the Argentine president. The Cabildo, a building that was used as the seat of government during the colonial periods of the Viceroyalty of the Plata. Another symbolic building in the city is that of the Congreso de la Nación Argentina (National Congress). A characteristic neighborhood of the city is that of La Boca, built by Italian immigrants, and characterized by colorful houses, famous is the Calle Caminito. Other popular tourist sites are located in the Montserrat and San Telmo neighborhoods. The area full of parks, including the botanical garden and the Japanese garden, in Palermo is also worth a visit.
Usually on a visit to Buenos Aires a visit to the Recoleta cemetery where Eva Peron (Evita) is buried never fails. If you are interested in learning more about the life story of Eva Peron, you should not miss visiting the museum dedicated to her, the Evita Museum.
