Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Neighborhood Walk
Historical Saunter
START
EL ZANJÓN DE GRANADOS
END
BAR BRITÁNICO
LENGTH
1.5KM; 2½ HOURS
Time your walk to tour the amazing series of tunnels and brick archways of
El Zanjón de Granados
(
Click here
), which formed the foundations of BA's oldest homes.
The decaying white-stucco-and-brick
Casa Mínima
at San Lorenzo 380 is a good example of the
narrow-lot style known as
casa chorizo
(sausage house). Barely 2m wide, the lot was reportedly an eman-
cipation gift from slave owners to their former bondsmen.
Stop at the lively
El Desnivel
(
Click here
) for a good steak experience. And don't miss strolling
through the covered
Mercado de San Telmo
(
Click here
), which has been running since 1897.
Back on Defensa you'll soon reach the heart of the barrio,
Plaza Dorrego
(
Click here
). From
Monday to Saturday it's a relatively peaceful place, but come Sunday the lively
Feria de San Telmo
(
Click here
) sets up in the plaza and surrounding streets.
For funky prison paraphernalia, check out the
Museo Penitenciario
(
Click here
); note the
Iglesia
Nuestra Señora de Belén
(
Click here
), an old Jesuit school, next door.
A block south, the
Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires
(
Click here
) offers cutting-edge ex-
hibitions, along with works by classic Argentine artists. Next door is the
Museo de Arte Contem-
poráneo Buenos Aires
(
Click here
), great for abstract art.
The freeway location of the
Club Atlético Memorial
is simply awful - but so is its history. This is
one of the secret detention centers where thousands of people were tortured and killed during Argentina's
Dirty War (1976-83). There isn't much left beyond an excavated basement where a three-story building
used to be.
Stroll through the large
Parque Lezama
(
Click here
) to the
Museo Histórico Nacional
(
Click
here
)
for a bit of insight into Argentina's history. And finally, rest your tired feet at the atmospheric corner
Bar Británico
(
Click here
), snag a prized window seat and order a drink - you deserve it.
