Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
Manzana de las Luces
A Day of Monuments
Morning
Have breakfast at
La
Americana
The city's historical heart,
Manzana de las Luces (The Block
of Enlightenment), is a complex
of Jesuit and government
buildings dating from the mid-
17th century. Highlights include
the city's oldest church - Iglesia
San Ignacio - built in 1668, the
old Jesuits' headquarters, the
Sala de Representantes, and the
Colegio Nacional de Buenos
Aires. Running beneath the block
are tunnels built in the 1690s to
link this site with the Plaza de
Mayo.
d
Map F2 • Perú 272,
Montserrat • 4342-6973
• www.manzanadelasluces.gov.ar
(see p57)
before walking east down
Avenida de Mayo
,
admiring this avenue's
fabulous architecture, in
particular the Art Nouveau
Hotel Chile
and
the Neo-Gothic
Palacio
Barolo
(see p14)
. At the
avenue's intersection with
Perú, turn right after two
blocks for
Manzana de las
Luces
and take a thrilling
journey back in time to
17th-century Buenos Aires.
Continue this historical
thread by exploring
Manzana's jumble of
adjoining streets, popping
into the
Museo de la
Ciudad
. Return to
Avenida de Mayo
for
coffee and croissants at
Café Tortoni
(see p14)
)
Museo Casa Carlos Gardel
This museum is set within
the house Gardel
shared
with his mother in the years prior
to his death in 1933. A typical
(see p28)
casa
.
Walk west to
Avenida 9
de Julio
(see p15)
chorizo
, from early 20th-century
Buenos Aires, the house displays
Gardel's eventful life through the
family photos, vinyl records, and
movie posters on display. A micro-
movie-theater shows Gardel's old
movies and a section of the house
has been restored to show how
he lived.
d
Map M5 • Jean Jaurés 735,
Abasto • 4964-2015 • Open 11am-6pm
Mon, Wed-Fri; 10am-7pm Sat-Sun
• Adm • www.museocasacarlosgardel.
buenosaires.gov.ar
, where
you can take a tour of the
beautiful
Teatro Colón
.
(see p65)
Afternoon
Head to Recoleta, and
take lunch at
La Biela
(see
p70)
. Post-meal, wander
the streets and alleys of
the
Cementerio de la
Recoleta
, which
is directly opposite. Then
browse contemporary art
at the
Centro Cultural
Recoleta
. Head up to the
roof terrace here for lovely
views. From the
Centro
Cultural
cross
Plaza
Francia
(see p65)
to the
Avenida Alvear. Walk three
blocks east along Alvear to
the
Alvear Palace Hotel
(see p112)
(see p37)
, where you can
stop for high tea. Heading
east again, explore high-
fashion boutiques before
turning right at the inter-
section with Libertad to
end your day with wine
and dinner at
Gran Bar
Danzón
(see p70)
.
Museo Casa Carlos Gardel
67
After visiting the Museo Casa Carlos Gardel, stroll the adjacent
Zelaya street, a colorful side-street decorated with tango murals.
