BUENOS AIRES AREA BY AREA - Argentina - page 106

traditional, urban, indigenous,
and rural variants. The museum
is a salutary reminder that, to
understand Argentina and its
history, it is necessary to be
aware of the importance of its
rural heritage and customs.
Housed in an early 20th-
century building that was
once a hotel, the collection
comprises over 8,000 traditional
and handmade objects of
staggering diversity, showcasing
the techniques and materials of
both the country's indigenous
population and the early
colonial settlers.
Among the exhibits are
beautifully wrought silverware,
masks, musical instruments, and
rudimentary weaponry. The
pretty patio garden is a great
place for a packed lunch.

The beautiful 20th-century building that houses Museo Evita

6 Museo Evita
Calle Lafinur 2988, Palermo. City Map
5 E3. Te l [phone]. Plaza
Italia. @ 39, 59, 93. Open 11am-7pm
Tue-Sun. & 8 on request. 7
limited. = ∑ museoevita.org

7 Museo de Arte
Latinoamericano
de Buenos Aires
(MALBA)
See pp114-15.

The museum dedicated to Eva
Perón is housed in an early
20th-century mansion that
once belonged to the aristo-
cratic Carabaza family. The
building was converted into
a shelter for the homeless in
1948, when it was bought
by the Eva Perón Social Aid
Foundation. After the fall of the
Perón government, it was used
for administrative purposes
until mid-2002. Opened later
that year, the museum is run
by the Instituto Nacional Eva
Perón, which aims to preserve
the legacy of her life and work
for the people of Argentina.
The displays trace Eva Perón's
life and passions faithfully,
while some of the exhibits
include items which belonged
to the families who once took
shelter in the house. However,
the most impressive exhibits
are Evita's posters, famous
photographs, jewelry, and her
Dior dresses. One of the most
memorable images shows Evita
saluting the “shirtless ones”
from the balcony of Casa
Rosada (see p68) . There is also
an image of Evita, scrubbed
and spotless, amid a crew of
grubby miners. Other rare
exhibits include magazine
articles dating from when she
was a radio star in the 1930s.

8 Museo de Arte
Popular José
Hernández
Ave del Libertador 2373, Palermo.
City Map 5 F3. Te l [phone].
@ 37, 59, 60. Open 1-7pm Wed-Fri,
10am-8pm Sat, Sun, & hols. Closed
1 Jan, 1 May, Good Friday, & Dec 25.
& Sun free. 8 by reservation only.
- = ∑ museo hernandez.
buenosaires.gob.ar

Named for José Hernández,
the author of Martín Fierro ,
Argentina's first and only
national epic, this slightly untidy
museum has one of the finest
collections of Argentinian
popular art, including

Interior of Museo Nacional de Arte
Decorativo

9 Museo Nacional
de Arte Decorativo
Ave del Libertador 1902, Recoleta.
City Map 2 B2. Te l [phone].
@ 59, 60, 67, 93. Open Jan: 2-7pm
Tue-Sat; Feb-Dec: 2-7pm Tue-Sun.
& Tue free. 8 4:30pm Tue-Sat,
2:30pm Tue-Sun (in English). 7 by
arrangement. 0 - =
∑ mnad.org

Once home to the wealthy art
lover and Chilean diplomat
Errázuriz-Alvear, this early
20th-century French-style
mansion was declared a listed
national monument in 1998. It
houses Argentina's only major
decorative arts museum, with a
collection of over 4,000 objects,

Wide wooden doors at Museo de Arte
Popular José Hernández

For hotels and restaurants see pp278-83 and pp288-99