Buenos Aires

State

Argentina

Country

South America

Continent

South America

Size

203 KM²

Population

15,258,000

Spending Budget

$206 - $1,152

Famous For

Plaza De Mayo
The Recoleta cemetery
La Boca
Teatro Colon
The Water Company Palace

Best Time to Visit

January
February
April
May
June
September
October
November
December

History

The city of Buenos Aires was first established after Our Lady of Bonaria (Patroness Saint of Sardinia) on 2 February 1536 by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza. The settlement founded by Mendoza was located in what is today the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, south of the city centre. More attacks by the indigenous people forced the settlers away, and in 1542, the site was thusly abandoned. A second (and permanent) settlement was established on 11 June 1580 by Juan de Garay. From its earliest days, Buenos Aires depended primarily on trade. During most of the 17th century, Spanish ships were menaced by pirates, so they developed a complex system where ships with military protection were dispatched to Central America in a convoy from Seville (the only port allowed to trade with the colonies) to Lima, Peru, and from it to the inner cities of the viceroyalty. During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata, British forces attacked Buenos Aires twice. In 1806 the British successfully invaded Buenos Aires, but an army from Montevideo led by Santiago de Liniers defeated them. In the brief period of British rule, the viceroy Rafael Sobremonte managed to escape to Córdoba and designated this city as capital. Buenos Aires became the capital again after its recapture by Argentine forces, but Sobremonte could not resume his duties as viceroy. Santiago de Liniers, chosen as new viceroy, prepared the city against a possible new British attack and repelled a second invasion by Britain in 1807. By 1810 it would be those same armies who would support a new revolutionary attempt, successfully removing the new viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros. This is known as the May Revolution, which is now celebrated as a national holiday. This event started the Argentine War of Independence, and many armies left Buenos Aires to fight the diverse strongholds of royalist resistance, with varying levels of success. During most of the 19th century, the political status of the city remained a sensitive subject. It was already the capital of Buenos Aires Province, and between 1853 and 1860 it was the capital of the seceded State of Buenos Aires. The issue was fought out more than once on the battlefield, until the matter was finally settled in 1880 when the city was federalized and became the seat of government, with its mayor appointed by the president. Health conditions in poor areas were appalling, with high rates of tuberculosis. Contemporaneous public health physicians and politicians typically blamed both the poor themselves and their ramshackle tenement houses for the spread of the dreaded disease. People ignored public-health campaigns to limit the spread of contagious diseases, such as the prohibition of spitting on the streets, the strict guidelines to care for infants and young children, and quarantines that separated families from ill. In addition to the wealth generated by customs duties and Argentine foreign trade in general, as well as the existence of fertile pampas, railroad development in the second half of the 19th century increased the economic power of Buenos Aires as raw materials flowed into its factories. A leading destination for immigrants from Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, from 1880 to 1930, Buenos Aires became a multicultural city that ranked itself alongside the major European capitals. On 17 March 1992, a bomb exploded in the Israeli Embassy, killing 29 and injuring 242. Another explosion, on 18 July 1994, destroyed a building housing several Jewish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more, these incidents marked the beginning of Middle Eastern terrorism in South America. Following a 1993 agreement, the Argentine Constitution was amended to give Buenos Aires autonomy.

Present Day

In 1996, following the 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution, the city held its first mayoral elections under the new statutes, with the mayor's title formally changed to "Head of Government". It's the biggest cosmopolitan city in Argentina. The port of Buenos of Aires is the biggest in South America. This port plays a vital role in Argentina's import and export businesses overseas. The Presidential office called Casa Rosada is in Buenos Aires which is also called Pink House. Argentina is very famous for Soccer teams. As it, Buenos also have 8 teams which rule the Buenos soccer in the city. The city’s wealth and influence overshadow the life of the rest of the country, but Buenos Aires also presents Argentina with its severest economic and social problems. This dichotomy has made Buenos Aires a centre for political and social unrest. This grandiose city with wide avenues and a vibrant cosmopolitan flair is more generally European than Latin American in character. Having little colonial architecture and few landmark buildings, Buenos Aires is chiefly a city of distinctive neighbourhoods that have their own meeting places, generally coffeehouses or bars. This is a tradition rooted in the colonial period, when the centre of each neighbourhood was a general store and bar known as a pulpería. These neighbourhoods provide a sense of community for people who live in an urban sprawl that by the early 21st century was growing twice as fast as the country as a whole.

Future

The country has plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 15 percent by 2030, there is still a long way to go for both the government and Argentines. Waste management has always been a challenge for big cities. Every day, Buenos Aires generates 6,000 tons of residues, as reported by the Ecological Coordination for the Metropolitan Area, most of which is buried. However, another significant part of the produced rubbish is recycled at the city’s “Green Centers.” To make the waste management system more efficient, the program is planning to install sensors at garbage bins that would indicate how full they are. That way, waste collectors would be able to determine the best routes that would allow them to save time and money. A city that acts as a regional center of innovation, tourism and services, territory of opportunities, axis of productive development and the tasks associated with knowledge, culture and creativity, which bases its growth within a sustainable.

Must Visit Places ------------

The Recoleta Cemetery and Museums

The Recoleta Cemetery (Cementerio de la Recoleta) has long been popular among locals and tourists alike, drawn here for the many elaborate mausoleums that serve as final resting places for a veritable Who's Who of famous Argentines, including such illustrious souls as Eva Perón, now embalmed in the Duarte family tomb. Although somewhat ostentatious, these beautiful crypts are a testament to the national interest in death, something so important that Argentinians continue to honor their family members' birthdays and death-days alike.

Buenos Aires Cabildo

the beautiful Cabildo served as the seat of the colonial government and was at the epicenter of the May 1810 revolution against Spanish rule. It dates back to 1610 and was later expanded throughout the 18th century. These days this splendid building houses the National Museum of the Cabildo with its numerous exhibits relating to the city during the 18th century, including a replica of the city's first printing press, an exhibit of Jesuit and colonial art, and numerous old maps and photos of the city. Another museum of interest in Plaza de Mayo is the Museo de la Casa de Gobierno inside the Casa Rosada, the Presidential Palace, providing a chronology of Argentinian presidents up to 1966 along with related artifacts and memorabilia.

The Metropolitan Cathedral

Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana) can trace its roots back to the early 16th century when the Spanish established one of the country's first churches here. Despite its rather plain exterior, this catholic church boasts a lovely Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque interior along with numerous important artworks, including 18th-century altarpieces and statues, as well as a Walcker organ dating from 1871 that includes an impressive 3,500 pipes and is regarded as one of the finest of its kind. Also of interest here is the tomb of one of Argentina's most revered revolutionary heroes, General José de San Martín. Another religious site worth seeing is the Block of Enlightenment (Manzana de las Luces), a city block traditionally regarded as the historical center of learning and high culture in Buenos Aires. It includes the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires and San Ignacio Church, the city's oldest surviving church, famous for its tunnels and artwork.

Plaza de Mayo

Established in the 16th century, this delightful two-block-long plaza has been the stage for many important events in the city's history, from the uprising against Spain in 1810 to the continuing vigils held by the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of Plaza de Mayo) whose children "disappeared" during the military junta's reign from 1976 to 1983. Much of the area is pedestrianized, including popular Florida and Lavalle Streets, and numerous attractions can easily be included in a fun walking tour of the area that will take in such important landmarks as Casa Rosada, the pale pink Presidential Palace from which Eva Perón would address the enormous crowds.

La Boca and Caminito Street Museum

La Boca is a favorite haunt for artistic and creative types, many of whom take their art outside and onto the streets, decorating balconies and patios with amusing sculptures of tango dancers and other characters. Much of the fun here for visitors is exploring the Caminito Street Museum, a colorful pedestrian-friendly zone that has functioned as an open-air museum and art market since 1959. Painted a patchwork of colors, this string of bright and extremely photogenic buildings offer quality crafts and souvenirs, sculptures, and, for the footloose, free open-air tango demonstrations

Palermo Woods

This Palermo woods also have another name called Parque Tres De Febrero. People have mostly known the name of Bosques De Palermo. It's an urban park up to 400 hectares. The park lies between Libertador and Figueroa Alcorta Avenues. This park is familiar with its lakes, groves and rose gardens. The park also possesses The planetarium. The park has the Buenos Aires Garden and Japanese Garden inside which has a specific appearance to enjoy the feel of the garden. Buenos Aires zoo is 45 acres surrounding. The zoo contains 89 species of mammals, 49 species of reptiles and also birds of almost 175 species. The mission of the Institute is to promote and create awareness about the conversation of these species.

Avenida 9 De Julio

In Spanish the actual name is Avenida 9 de Julio. It's a major thoroughfare of Buenos Aires. The name honours Argentina Independence Day on July 9, 1816. The avenue consists of 3 km. This area possesses a metro bus scheme which covers all the important and industrial area of Buenos Aires. The French Embassy Palacio Ortiz Basualdo lies in this avenue. Teatro Colon also located near this avenue. Constitucion station and Plaza Constitution are also lying here. Obelisk and Plaza de la Republica come under this avenue. People mostly come here to know about the independent history of Argentina. Some people come here to visit this historical combo of many familiar places at one avenue.

EL Ateneo Grand Splendid

It's a world-famous huge bookshop in an ancient theatre of Buenos. The Guardian article places the second biggest bookshop in the world for this splendid. National Geographic recognized this splendid as World's most beautiful book store. The book readers are die-hard fans of the organization of books at the store. Because it's all arranged in the way of audience arranged for a movie in a theatre. So people enjoy the architecture of the building.

Teatro Colon

This Teatro Colon is the main Opera House in Buenos Aires. It's called the Columbus Theater in the Spanish language. It's one of the best 5 concert venues in the world. The architectural style of the building is Eclecticism. The colon is admiring by music lovers and singers, especially for live concerts. In a year every time, it was glittering by fans and singers. Later the theatre needs a complete renovation at 2005 and the completion of refurbishment is at 2006 October. The most admiring place of the theatre is Golden Room in Spanish they call it Salon Dorado, Concert Hall and Stage. Allegorical ceiling frescoes were painted by famous Raul Soldi. These are the major key reasons for people admiration.

The Water Company Palace

An imposing brick edifice taking up an entire city block, the water company palace in Buenos Aires is one of the most striking buildings in the city. Completed in 1894, the 300,000 bricks making up the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes were brought over over from Britain. The palace is located in the city’s elegant Recoleta neighborhood.