Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
antiques market
(see p18)
. On
weekdays, it is an ideal spot for
alfresco drinks and snacks.
d
Map F3
Yellow Fever
In 1871 a deadly yellow fever
outbreak engulfed Buenos Aires,
devastating San Telmo. Richer
inhabitants moved north to the
new districts of Recoleta and
Barrio Norte, initiating a period of
decay in the city's south. The
poverty gap between the city's
wealthy northern neighborhoods
and their poorer southern
counterparts was thus born.
&
Museo de la Pasión
Boquense
This chintzy museum revels in
the glory of the Boca Juniors
Club. Items on display include
soccer trophies won over the
years, vintage strips, and retro
videos, including grainy 1920s
footage. Expect gimmicky stuff
too - have your ''photo'' taken
with a grinning Maradona or buy
a bottle of La Boca wine in the
club store.
d
Map G6 • Brandsen 805,
La Boca • 4362-1100 • Open 10am-6pm
daily • Adm • www.museoboquense.com
%
Parque Lezama/Museo
Histórico Nacional
Popular with picnicking families,
this landscaped park of tropical
tipa
trees, sweeping green
spaces, and a broad viewing
balcony, was once the private
garden of the Lezama family.
The Lezama home, a beautiful
Italianate mansion, now houses
the Museo Histórico Nacional -
Argentina's national history
museum. Fascinating displays
recount Argentina's history from
pre-Columbian times to the
20th century, and include the
founding of Buenos Aires at this
spot
(see p32)
.
d
Map F4
• Defensa 1600, San Telmo • 4307-1182
• Open 11am-6pm daily • Adm
*
Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa
The 1901 construction of this
beautiful Russian Orthodox
Church confirmed San Telmo as
a bubbling melting pot of
immigrant cultures. Its striking
design - a blue-and-white onion-
domed affair - was drawn up in
Moscow and financed by
Russia's imperial house along
with members of Buenos Aires'
Orthodox community. It mirrors
exactly the churches of the
Russian capital.
d
Map F4 • Avda.
Brasil 315, San Telmo
^
Plaza Dorrego
At the heart of San Telmo,
lovely Plaza Dorrego is
one of the city's
oldest, most
picturesque squares,
ringed by old tango
bars and cafés.
Its origins go back
to the 18th
century, when
gauchos came in
by wagon to
sell wares
here. Today, it
is famous for
its bustling
Sunday
(
Puente
Transbordador
La Boca's most icon-
ic landmark, this
magnificent trans-
porter bridge is
one of only a
dozen or so of its
kind left in the
world. Built in
1908, its
powerful iron
frame
straddles the
polluted waters
Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa
74
