Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
throats sell silver jewelry, miniature ceramic
houses in colonial style, small earthen pots and
gaily painted animals.
Many quaint
inexpensive
items can be
found here.
Palermo Chico
For a peek at Palermo Chico follow
Avenida
Figueroa Alcorta
. This is primarily a residen-
tial area with stunning homes and foreign
embassies. There are few shops or eateries.
Here too the streets wind in one of the few parts
of Buenos Aires where the grid pattern doesn't
exist. Two museums in Palermo Chico are the
José Hernández Museum
for displays of
Argentine crafts and
gaucho
lore and the
Museum of Oriental and Decorative Arts
.
Stop at
Café Tabac
for tea and pastries.
Exploring Buenos Aires'
Southern Quarter
When Juan de Garay founded the city of Bue-
nos Aires in 1580, he brought 63 families with
him. As the city grew most of the settlements
were near the Plaza Mayor (now Plaza de
Mayo) or to the south of it. Beautiful homes and
churches were built, businesses were opened
and the area prospered. In the 1870s the city
was hit by an outbreak of yellow fever. Blame
for the epidemic was placed on the thick fog
which rolled over the area from the nearby
Riachuelo River. Wealthier families and any-
one able to leave deserted this quarter for the
northern parts of the city. The homes they left
behind were filled by poor immigrants who
Both museums
are covered in
the
Museums
section.
