“What I love most about Buenos Aires is the cosmopolitan and the cultural ambiance you can experience in its streets and barrios (neighborhoods),” says Magdalena Zoroza, Grand Circle’s Regional General Manager for Argentina, who lives in the city with her husband and two young sons.
In particular, Magdalena appreciates Buenos Aires’ unique blend of Latin and European cultures. “My blood is 75 percent Italian,” she explains, referencing the large number of Italians who immigrated to Argentina in the late 19th century, “so you can imagine how much I love pasta!”
Magdalena also notes that Argentinean culture retains a strong focus on family life. “Family bonds are very strong here,” she says, “and we tend to stay together—not necessarily living in the same house, but living near each other. We like to meet on Sunday noon to have lunch together. It is a great opportunity to try homemade pastas (if your family has Italian influence, like mine!) or our famous asado (barbeque).”
Here, Magdalena share a few more things—ten, to be precise—that make her proud to be a Porteño, or resident of Argentina’s vibrant capital city.
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Plaza de Mayo—Named for the May Revolution of 1810, which eventually led to Argentina’s independence from Spain, this is the gathering spot for locals and visitors alike in downtown Buenos Aires. Some of the city’s most famous monuments are located here, including the Cabildo, which housed the colonial government; the Metropolitan Cathedral; and the Casa Rosada, the pink-hued presidential palace.
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La Boca District—This lively neighborhood gets its name (“The Mouth”) for its strategic location on the Rio de la Plata. As the district’s early settlers were primarily Italian immigrants, the area today has a decidedly European flavor; traditional-style trattorias line the streets, and the Genoese dialect is still spoken here. Celebrated as the birthplace of the tango, La Boca is also known for its brightly painted buildings and colorful murals—and for being the home of the Boca Juniors, one of sports-mad Argentina’s premier football teams.
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Recoleta Cemetery—Like Peré Lachaise in Paris, this cemetery serves as the final resting place for many famous Argentineans, from politicians and painters to writers and sportsmen. Most visitors come here to see the grave of Maria Eva Duarte de Perón, or “Evita,” as she was more popularly known. An often polarizing figure, Evita was just 33 years old when she died of cancer in 1952—but her legacy has endured: One of her greatest achievements was securing Argentinean women’s right to vote, in 1947.
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San Telmo Street Market—If you happen to be in Buenos Aires on a Sunday, you simply must head to the St. Pedro Gonzalez Telmo (“San Telmo”), the city’s oldest barrio. Originally an antiques market, today’s vendors sell a wide array of goods, including local handcrafts and freshly prepared foods. As you stroll along San Telmo’s cobblestone streets, you’ll also encounter magicians, musicians (from solitary singers to fully outfitted orchestras), stilt-walkers, tango masters, and other street performers—which makes for a wonderful carnival-like atmosphere.
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Café Tortoni—Founded in 1858, Tortoni is the oldest coffeehouse in the country. Beloved by artists and intellectuals of the ‘40s and ‘50s—including author Jorge Luis Borges, violinist and composer Julio De Carlo, and poet Alfonsina Storni—today’s café patrons come here to enjoy live music, tango shows, and literary events. When you go, be sure to order Tortoni’s signature chocolate con churros: Hot cocoa served with deep-fried sticks of dough ideal for dipping in the thick, velvety chocolate!
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San Isidro & Tigre—To escape from the hustle and bustle of the city proper, head to one of these tranquil Buenos Aires suburbs. San Isidro, which is about 40 minutes away by train, is rife with cobblestone streets, manicured gardens, and ornate villas belonging to the Argentinean elite. The port city of Tigre, settled in 1580, lies about 20 miles north of Buenos Aires; it’s known for its impressive art museum (Museo de Arte Tigre) and for being the departure point for scenic boat trips along the Paraña Delta.
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Puerto Madero Waterfront—Once filled with dilapidated warehouses and crumbing docks, Puerto Madero is now a gleaming riverside promenade that boasts modern, high-rise apartments and some of the best shops and restaurants in Buenos Aires. It’s also home to the iconic Puente de le Mujer (Woman’s Bridge)—a cantilevered footbridge designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava—and two historic ships from the Argentine Armada, which are moored permanently along the Rio de la Plata and open to the public.
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Milongas —When true tango aficionados want to practice their steps, they head to one of the city’s many milongas, or neighborhood dance halls. If you feel like joining them, be sure to brush up on milonga etiquette before you go: Refrain from talking while dancing; understand that accepting an invitation to dance obliges you to do so for the entire song; and never, ever correct your partner’s steps on the dance floor (this should be done only in a practica, or lesson).
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Tango Shows—For those intimidated by milonga etiquette, watching professional dancers perform at an evening tango show can be equally exciting—particularly when you factor in the intricate choreography, sophisticated stage lights, and lavish costumes. There are literally hundreds of venues in Buenos Aires to choose from, and many of them include dinner in the price of admission.
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Bosques de Palermo—This 62-acre public park, which opened in 1875, provides plenty of outdoor options for whiling away a sunny afternoon. Visitors and locals come here to jog, bike, stroll among its rose and botanical gardens, ply paddleboats in its lake, meet the animals housed in its zoo, go star-gazing at the Galileo Galilei Planetarium, and more.
Learn more about the history and culture of Magdalena’s homeland on our Discover South America: Chile & Argentina Extended Vacation.