Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tina's black history is limited and mysterious - the country did have a slave trade, but
today there are very few people of African descent here.
MUSEO PENITENCIARIO
( 4361-0917;
museopenitenciarioargentino.blogspot.com.ar
;
Humberto Primo 378; 2-6pm Thu, Fri
& Sun)
F
Dating from 1760, this building was a convent and later a women's prison before
it became a penal museum in 1980; reconstructed old jail cells give an idea of the prison-
ers' conditions. Don't miss the homemade playing cards and shivs, plus the tennis balls
used to hide drugs. A prison infirmary is also exhibited. Next door, the neocolonial and
suit school until 1767, when the Bethlemite order took it over.
MUSEUM
CONVENTO DE SANTO DOMINGO
MAP
CHURCH
GOOGLE MAP
( 4331-1668 ext 201; cnr Defensa & Belgrano; basílica tours by appointment only; Línea E
Bolívar, Línea A Plaza de Mayo)
Marking the approach into San Telmo, this 18th-century
Dominican building has a long and colorful history. On its left tower you'll see the replic-
ated scars of shrapnel launched against British troops who holed up here during the inva-
sion of 1806. The
basílica
displays the flags that were captured from the British. Secular-
ized during the presidency of Bernardino Rivadavia (1826-27), the building became a nat-
ural history museum, its original single tower serving as an astronomical observatory, un-
til Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas restored it to the Dominican order. For (free) basilica
tours, call between 3:30pm and 6:30pm; most tours run on Sundays.
MUSEO DEL TRAJE
( 4343-8427;
www.funmuseodeltraje.com.ar
; Chile 832; 3-7pm Tue-Sun; Línea C Independen-
cia)
F
Near the Montserrat border, this small clothing museum is always changing its
wardrobe. You can hit upon wedding outfits from the late 1800s, popular fashions from
the early 1900s or even clothing worn by travelers on the Silk Rd. If you're lucky, ac-
cessories such as hair combs, top hats, antique eyeglasses and elegant canes might be on
display.
MUSEUM
FACULTAD DE INGENIERIA
MAP
NOTABLE BUILDING
GOOGLE MAP
