Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tierra Santa
THEME PARK
( 0800-444-3467;
www.tierrasanta-bsas.com.ar
;
Av Costanera R Obligado 5790; adult/child
3-11yr AR$60/30; 9am-9pm Fri, noon-10pm Sat, Sun & holidays Apr-Nov, 4pm-midnight Fri-Sun
& holidays Dec-Mar)
Even respectful, devout Catholics will find this - the 'world's first reli-
gious theme park' - a very tacky place. It boasts animatronic dioramas of Adam and Eve
and the Last Supper, but its
pièce de résistance
is a giant Jesus rising from a fake moun-
tain - aka the resurrection - every half-hour. It's just north of Palermo, near the water.
Centro Islámico Rey Fahd
MOSQUE
( 4899-0201;
www.ccislamicoreyfahd.org.ar
;
Av Int Bullrich 55)
This landmark mosque, built
by Saudis on land donated by former president Carlos Menem, is southeast of Las
Cañitas. Free tours in Spanish are offered on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at noon
(bring your passport, dress conservatively and enter via Av Int Bullrich).
Belgrano
Bustling Av Cabildo, the racing heartbeat of Belgrano, is an overwhelming jumble of
noise and neon; it's a two-way street of clothing, shoe and houseware shops that does its
part to support the mass consumerism of
porteños
.
Only a block east of Av Cabildo,
Plaza Belgrano
is the site of a modest but fun week-
end crafts fair.
Near the plaza stands the Italianate
Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción
, a church
popularly known as 'La Redonda' because of its impressive dome. Four blocks northeast
of Plaza Belgrano is
Barrancas de Belgrano
, an attractive park on one of the few natur-
al hillocks in the city. And nearby, just across the train tracks, Belgrano's small
Chin-
atown
offers decent Chinese restaurants and cheap goods.
Museo de Arte Español
Enrique Larreta
MUSEUM
( 4784-4040;
www.museolarreta.buenosaires.gov.ar
;
Juramento 2291; admission AR$5;
1-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat & Sun)
Hispanophile novelist Enrique Larreta (1875-1961)
resided in this elegant colonial-style house across from Plaza Belgrano, which now dis-
plays his private art collection to the public. It's a grand and spacious old building, and
contains classic Spanish art, period furniture, wood-carved religious items, shields and
armor. The wood and tiled floors are beautiful, and everything is richly lit. Tours in
