Buenos Aires is known as “The Pearl” of South America and there’s definitely a reason why. Think about all of the characteristics of a pearl: treasured, rare, beautiful, and radiant. All of these adjectives also encapsulate the city of Buenos Aires.
In the large city of Buenos Aires, the capital of the Republic of Argentina, you’ll find an intensely packed, bustling style, and a clearly defined cultural life. Argentine tango, long coffee klatches, and football (what we would call soccer here in the U.S.) are all essential daily parts of life for the population of the city.
During the 1900s, many European immigrants came to the city of Buenos Aires to begin a new life. As much as 40% of these immigrants spent their first five days in Argentina living at the Immigrants’ Hotel. Today, this interesting historical landmark has been turned into a museum.
It is a great stop to make during your time in Buenos Aires. An old saying states that “Argentineans descend from these ships,” and the Immigrants’ Hotel is a fascinating way to see firsthand how many immigrants came to call Argentina home. The museum has a special significance, because not only does it keep records of the thousands of people who stayed there as they entered the country, but it is also a tribute to each of those people who left their homeland behind to find a new, brighter future.
To continue on your exploration of old, historic Buenos Aires, you simply must visit Café Tortoni. It was founded in 1858, which makes it the oldest coffee shop in Argentina. You’ll find that it is a very far cry from Starbucks!
The interior is filled with gorgeous hanging chandeliers and hard wood. Waiters skitter about dressed in black suits while holding trays of glasses, cups, plates, and cutlery. Coffee shops are a huge part of the culture of Buenos Aires, and you’ll find that Café Tortoni is the quintessential Argentinean coffee shop.
During your visit, you will undoubtedly notice the wonderful energy and movement that flows through the city at all times. This is most prevalent in the historic downtown area, which is known as the microcentro. Here you’ll find several buildings that are a grand example of Buenos Aires’ fine architecture.
You can also marvel at the beautiful obelisks and fountains, or duck inside the May Revolution Museum to learn more about the revolution in Argentina. Make sure to also stroll down La Manzana de las Luces, or The Block of Enlightenment, which is named such because it used to be the home to Argentina’s most prestigious schools and universities.
Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to delight in the arts while you’re in Buenos Aires! The Colón is known as the best place in the entire world to attend an opera, and the building itself just recently celebrated its 102nd birthday. The massive theater is able to seat 3,000 people, while the orchestra pit can fit up to 120 musicians.
You can marvel at an enormous chandelier with 700 lamps, the domed ceiling in the Main Hall which features frescos painted by Raúl Soldi, and marvelous stained glass windows from the famous Gaudin House in Paris.
If you’re a dance lover, you’ll have ample opportunity to catch a tango show, and you can also visit the World Tango Museum. It is conveniently located right above Café Tortoni, so you can’t miss it.
Argentine tango is so sexy and romantic that you just may find yourself feeling inspired to take a class with your spouse when you return home. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
