We mention four of the most important and well known areas in town. All of them are historic, touristic and great places to stay and visit while you are in Buenos Aires:
SAN TELMO
San Telmo is the barrio that lies six blocks from Plaza de Mayo, bounded to the north and south by the neighborhoods of Microcentro and La Boca, and to the east and west by Puerto Madero and Avenida 9 de Julio. It’s the oldest barrio in Buenos Aires. It dates back to the 17th century, when it was first home to dockworkers and brick-makers, and later became an industrial area.
San Telmo was a poor area, and one attempt to address this was the establishment of the Parish of San Pedro González Telmo in the area in 1806. ‘San Telmo’ is the patron saint of seafarers, and he is of course the namesake of the barrio today.
MONSERRAT
Monserrat is the barrio situated directly south of San Nicolas and forms part of Buenos Aires’ business district. It is a neighborhood steeped in local history and home to some of Argentina’s most significant public buildings.
Monserrat is a barrio measuring only 2.2-sq-km and is squeezed between San Nicolas, Puerto Madero, San Telmo and Balvanera. Although only officially recognized as a barrio in 1972, the area in which Monserrat sits is one the oldest in the city and able to trace its roots back to colonial times.
PALERMO
Palermo Soho is a part of Palermo: Littered with cafés, restaurants and boutiques in low-rise buildings, Palermo Soho is trendy, creative, chic, young, cool.
Palermo Hollywood, is the colloquial name for the section of Palermo Viejo. It’s more known for its nightlife, which includes some of the best restaurants, bar and clubs in the city.
Palermo Viejo is the oldest part of the barrio and occupies its southeastern corner. The barrio actually incorporates both Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho. However, here we will concentrate on the eastern area bounded by Avenida Santa Fe to the north, Coronel Diaz to the east, Cordoba to the south, and Scalabrini Ortiz to the west.
RECOLETA
With its lavish stately homes and plush hotels, Recoleta is considered by many to be the most affluent neighborhood in Buenos Aires. It is also an area of immense historical interest, namely the impressive Recoleta Cemetery.
The name Recoleta originates from the Monastery of the Recollect Fathers (Convento de Recoletos Descalzos), a faction of the Franciscan Order. The monastery was built on land owned by the barrio’s first mayor, Rodrigo Ortiz de Zarate, after Juan de Garay presented it to him as far back as 1583. At the time, Recoleta was a solitary and desolate area unaware of the changes that were to come.
Recoleta has a limitless collection of bars and restaurant so you are sure to find something to suit your taste.
