Top 10 Buenos Aires

( Manzana de las Luces
The city’s historical heart,
Manzana de las Luces (The Block
of Enlightenment), is a complex
of Jesuit and government
buildings dating from the mid-
17th century. Highlights include
the city’s oldest church – Iglesia
San Ignacio – built in 1668, the
old Jesuits’ headquarters, the
Sala de Representantes, and the
Colegio Nacional de Buenos
Aires. Running beneath the block
are tunnels built in the 1690s to
link this site with the Plaza de
Mayo. d Map F2 • Perú 272,
Montserrat • 4342-6973 • www.
manzanadelasluces.gov.ar
) Museo Casa Carlos Gardel
This museum is set within
the house Gardel (see p28)
shared with his mother in the
years prior to his death in 1933.
A typical casa chorizo, from early
20th-century Buenos Aires, the
house displays Gardel’s eventful
life through the family photos,
vinyl records, and movie posters
on display. A micro-movie-theater
shows Gardel’s old movies and a
section of the house has been
restored to show how he lived.
d Map M5 • Jean Jaurés 735, Abasto
• 4964-2015 • Open 11am–6pm Mon,
Wed–Fri; 10am–7pm Sat–Sun • Adm
• www.museos.buenosaires.gov.ar
Museo Casa Carlos Gardel
A Day of Monuments
Morning
Have breakfast at La
Americana (see p57)
before walking east down
Avenida de Mayo,
admiring this avenue’s
fabulous architecture, in
particular the Art Nouveau
Hotel Chile (see p14) and
the Neo-Gothic Palacio
Barolo (see p14). At the
avenue’s intersection with
Perú, turn right after two
blocks for Manzana de las
Luces and take a thrilling
journey back in time to
17th-century Buenos Aires.
Continue this historical
thread by exploring
Manzana’s jumble of
adjoining streets, popping
into the Museo de la
Ciudad. Return to
Avenida de Mayo for
coffee and croissants at
Café Tortoni (see p15).
Walk west to Avenida 9
de Julio (see p65), where
you can take a tour of the
beautiful Teatro Colón.
Afternoon
Head to Recoleta, and
take lunch at La Biela (see
p70). Post-meal, wander
the streets and alleys of
the Cementerio de la
Recoleta (see p65), which
is directly opposite. Then
browse contemporary art
at the Centro Cultural
Recoleta. Head up to the
roof terrace here for lovely
views. From the Centro
Cultural cross Plaza
Francia (see p37) to the
Avenida Alvear. Walk three
blocks east along Alvear to
the Alvear Palace Hotel
(see p112), where you can
stop for high tea. Heading
east again, explore highfashion
boutiques before
turning right at the intersection
with Libertad to
end your day with wine
and dinner at Gran Bar
Danzón (see p70).
After visiting the Museo Casa Carlos Gardel, stroll the adjacent
Zelaya street, a colorful side-street decorated with tango murals.
Around Town – Barrio Norte, Recoleta, and Around 67