Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Seeking out the beautiful European impressionistic artwork at
Museo Nacional de
Getting a close-up look at
Floralis Genérica
,
an interesting giant metal flower sculp-
ture.
Explore: Recoleta & Barrio Norte
Recoleta's main attractions are concentrated around the cemetery. This fashionable barrio
was, interestingly enough, first constructed as a result of sickness. Many upper-class
porteños
in the 1870s originally lived in southerly San Telmo, but during the yellow-fever
epidemic they relocated as far away as they could, which meant clear across town to Re-
coleta and Barrio Norte. Today you can best see much of the wealth of this sumptuous
quarter on Av Alvear, where many of the old mansions (and newer boutiques) are located.
Behind the cemetery is the impressive Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - this national
art museum is free, but note that it's closed in the mornings and on Mondays. And just
beyond the museum is the landmark flower sculpture
Floralis Genérica
. From here you
can walk to Palermo's fancy Malba museum and green parks in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Barrio Norte is not an official neighborhood as such but rather a largely residential
southern extension of Recoleta. Some people consider it a sub-neighborhood of Recoleta
(and parts of it are sometimes lumped in with Retiro or Palermo, too) - it all really de-
pends on who you talk to. However, Barrio Norte does have a more accessible feel than its
ritzier sibling, especially around busy Av Santa Fe. Here you'll find hundreds of shops, all
vying for shoppers' attention, and all conveniently located on bus and Subte lines - not
things you'll see much of in Recoleta itself.
Local Life
»
Hanging Out
La Biela (
Click here
)
is in a touristy location, but locals still flock here
to sit at the front patio on warm sunny days.
»
Shopping
Grab your wallet and head to Av Santa Fe, where hundreds of stores cater
to
porteños'
every whim (
Click here
)
.
