The cosmopolitan and eclectic city of Buenos Aires does not cease to surprise you with its contrasts; the fondness for the barrio (neighborhood) and the melancholy of tango mix with the modernity of mirrored high-rises and cellular phones.
The mixture of styles of Buenos Aires is characterized by its resemblance to the great capitals of the world and the Porteños love for culture and entertainment, nightlife, soccer and endless café conversations.
The Spaniards founded the city twice: in 1536 by Pedro de Mendoza, and in 1580 by Juan de Garay. The city was born gazing at the harbor and at the brown river, but during the past century it have become refined and European, with wide avenues and tree-lined promenades. Extraordinary buildings, product of a well-defined European heritage, give Buenos Aires a singular personality where different architectural styles live in a perfect harmony with ultra-modern crystal towers.
Today, close to fourteen million inhabitants live in Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area and the comings and goings subject the main arteries of every neighborhood to the frenzied rhythm of a great metropolis.
Buenos Aires, also known as the Queen of the River Plate, has innumerable art galleries, museums, theaters and cinemas, elegant boutiques and modern shopping centers, thousands of restaurants, bars and discotheques. As regards food, the asados (grills) and empanadas (meat pies) are the typical dishes.
Culture
Cinema, theater, visual arts, music and literature, all these cultural expressions are widely present in Buenos Aires. Many of their exponents have worldwide recognition, such as Jorge Luis Borges, Ernesto Sábato, Julio Bocca, Maximiliano Guerra, Astor Piazzola, Bruno Gelber, Antonio Berni and Raúl Soldi, among others.
The Colón Theater is ranked among the top three opera houses in the world with a beautiful architecture and perfect acoustics. Its wide stage allows great sets to be built for large casts. The most famous musicians and ballet-dancers have performed and continue to perform there.
In Buenos Aires there are about 90 theaters and 100 cinemas, with a large variety of shows. Among the key centers of culture are the General San Martín, Recoleta and Borges cultural centers.
Cultural centers are bastions for promoting artistic activities for the general public. During the spring and summer, the parks and open spaces of Buenos Aires buzz with top-class performances. There are prestigious galleries and museums where the works of Argentine and foreign artists can be admired.
Painting and sculpture have a key role in culture life. The country’s principal cities have prestigious art galleries. There is popular and folklore music and a special mention should be made to the urban musical typical of the River Plate area: the tango. Its idol, Carlos Gardel, was turned into a legend by millions of fans. Its lyrics and unmistakable beat make the tango a specifically Buenos Aires phenomenon, yet it continues to triumph abroad.
Five Nobel awards, in diverse fields, have been won by Argentine men: in physiology and medicine, B. Houssay (1947) and C. Milstein (1984); in chemistry, L. F. Leloir (1970), while C. Saavedra Lamas (1936) and A. Pérez Esquivel (1980) received the peace award.
Food
Meat and wine have given the country an excellent reputation. The local cuisine is varied and tasty. The Northwest region has its own specialties: empanadas, tamales, humita, carbonada and locro.
In addition, however, the strong immigration flows that populated the country explain the existence of delicious international cuisine.
The new Argentine cuisine, created by top-ranking chefs and encouraged by demanding gourmets, is up to international standards, competing with the best in the world.
Sports
One of the great obsessions of Argentines is soccer. The City of Buenos Aires has 17 stadiums, many of them seating more than 40.000 spectators.
The Pato is a genuine local sport, and Argentine polo has acquired an international reputation due to the dexterity of its players, considered the best in the world.
In recent years other sports have won thousands of young people over. There are more than 1,500 tennis courts in Buenos Aires and neighboring areas; in field hockey and roller skate hockey, Argentina’s teams have won major victories abroad. In rugby, the national team, the Pumas, has shown its mettle in diverse world championships.
Shopping
Most of the stores are located in downtown areas. Moreover, shopping malls have been built in Buenos Aires and the main provincial cities. Some of them are: Patio Bullrich, Galerías Pacífico, Alto Palermo and Dot Baires Shopping. High-quality goods are available, particularly in leather, wool or designer fashions, as well as furs, crafts and antiques.
Travelers are reimbursed the 21% value-added tax they have paid, if they have purchased locally made products for a value higher than $ 200 at stores participating in the system, which are identified by a “TAX FREE” sticker on store windows.
Communications
Excellent telephone, fax and Internet services are available. International direct dialing is available from anywhere in the country.
Weather
The climate in Buenos Aires is mild and very humid. Summers are hot, with an average temperature of 28 ºC degrees centigrade.
Winters are not so cold, and temperatures vary from 3 to 8 ºC degrees centigrade. At night and early in the morning, it freezes and it is usually foggy and misty, which hinders visibility.
Transportation
The Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) is located 35 km away from the City of Buenos Aires.
Numerous international airlines land in Argentina: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aerosur de Bolivia, Air Canadian, Air Class, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Copa Airlines, Cubana, Delta Air Lines, Gol, Iberia, KLM, Lade, Lan Chile, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mexicana de Aviación, Pluna, Qantas Airways, South Africa Airways, Swiss Airlines, Taca, Tam and United Airlines.
Domestic air services, which operate out of the Jorge Newbery airport in the city, are covered by Aerolíneas Argentinas, Andes, Austral, Lade, Laer and Pluna.
Congresses
50% of all congresses and exhibitions held in Argentina take place in Buenos Aires. The city has developed the infrastructure and the professional service quality that businessmen require, thus stamping the seal of steady growth taking place in the convention business. The constant support of th tourism and hotel industry helps to satisfy the demand with a high degree of success.
Investment in hotels has made it possible to build 5-star hotels with the latest in modern design and comfort alongside with traditional complexes which house the same conveniences in classical architecture.
There are different facilities to choose from where events can be held:
This is Buenos Aires, unique, unequaled, always ready to give its best.
BUENOS AIRES' TOURISM WEBSITE
For more information you can visit: www.bue.gov.ar
