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Every year more than a Million tourists visit San Telmo.
This historic district of the city of Buenos Aires is less
than ten blocks situated from the "Plaza de Mayo"
(May-Square). It is limited by the microcenter ("Microcentro"),
by districts like "Monserrat", "La Boca"
and "Barracas" and by the "Puerto Madero"
(Port). Its ubication is less than a kilometre from the ecological
reservate.
San Telmo is one of the oldest parts of the city. Supposedly
it was here where in 1536 Don Pedro de Mendoza founded the city
of Buenos Aires. San Telmo is located in the historical part
of the city, the architecture of its buildings reflects the
different styles and periods of time, even some 19th century
constructions have survived.
In the passageway of Saint Lawrence ("Pasaje San Lorenzo")
one comes across San Telmo`s famous courtyards, one of them
sheltering the so-called "Casa Minima" (tiny house),
one of the narrowest houses of the capital, once giving home
to one of the first liberated slaves. Those drawn to mysterious
depths and lovers of creepiness should take part in a guided
tour leading through historical tunnels. It starts at the corner
of Defensa-Street and Saint-Lawrence-Passageway ("Pasaje
San Lorenzo").
The Giuffra-Passageway ("pasaje Giuffra") and
Balcarce-Street are other examples representing the older styles
of architecture of Buenos Aires. San Telmo is a part of the
city where you can find antique buildings, cobblestone streets,
picturesque streetlamps and above all a market that is more
than a hundred years old. It's an area with intense social and
cultural activity that combines art and design with antique
objects, nightlife and bohemia.
Its commercial centre is situated around the "Plaza
Dorrega" (Dorrega-Square), where ever since 1970 a big
flea-market takes place. Thousands of interested visitors come
there every Sunday to enjoy and buy old objects that once where
part of Argentinean households. Also you find street artists,
Tango-dancers and living statues performing around the little
square, they give the area its special, almost magical feeling.
Also every Sunday Defensa-Street is transformed into a pedestrian
area and a big market for all kinds of handicraft is held. In
total there are 6 markets apart from the one on Plaza Dorrega:
At the corner of Defensa-Street and San-Lorenzo-Passageway,
at the corner of Defensa-Street and Independencia-Street, at
the corner of Defensa-Street and Giuffra-Passageway, at the
corner of Defensa-Street und Cochabamba-Street. I addition one
can find a little flea-market in Lezama-Park and a little art-market
at the corner of the streets Humberto 1. and Bolivar.
Huge old houses converted into galleries such as the one
you can find in the so-called "El viejo hotel de los Immigrantes"
(Old Immigrants' Hotel) Balcarce-Street Nr. 1053, which shelters
various antique shops like the ones in Defensa-Street Nr.1079,
design shops, bars, restaurants and cafés, form the scenery
of the district.
In the surroundings of Lezama-Park one can listen to the
sound of drums played and also teached every Sunday by immigrants
with African origin. San Telmo is one of the very few places
in the capital where African people are present.
Obviously the district bursts with diversity and colors.
Tango is danced, candombe (typical style of music,"Rio
de la Plata"- area, strongly influenced by African immigrants)
is played and in various pubs one can enjoy life performances
by Jazz-, Blues, Rock- and Folk-Bands as well as other types
of music. Classical Music and Opera is found in San Telmo´s
own Scala. Of great importancy are the numerous so-called "Tanguerías"
(traditional bars where Tango is played and /or danced), their
majority located in Balcarce-Street.
There are all kinds of bars, from historical and traditional
ones such as the "Bar Británico", to modern
pubs in the surroundings of Dorrega-Square. Tango is performed
for all types of audience like for example open air Tango performances
by street artists again on Plaza Dorrega every Sunday but there
are also exclusive shows in various locations at night.
San Telmo and its surrounding area is a zone that shelters
lots of theatres and museums. There is something for everyone:
the City Museum ("Museo de la Ciudad"), Print Museum("Museo
del Grabado"), Museum of National History ("Museo
Histórico Nacional"), Film Museum ("Museo del
Cine"), Museum of Modern Art ("Museo de Arte Moderno"),
Museum of traditional Gowns ("Museo del Traje"), Immigrants
Museum ("Museo de los Inmigrantes") and the Puppet
Museum ("Museo del Títere"). Contemporary theatres
are as follows "La Máscara", "CELCIT",
"LyF", "Margarita Xirgu", "El Búho"
and "La Manzana de las Luces".
The area offers a number of film schools as well as art
galleries, hundreds of artists live and work in the district.
In February an open air film festival is organized. Throughout
the whole year street artists perform and the so-called "Murgas"
(traditional Carneval performance group, singing and dancing)
practise on Sundays on the street. The cultural events taking
place, no matter wheater they are big or small, always are new
and interesting experiences to the visitor. Living together
with their local neighbours are immigrants from all over the
world. Thousends of young Europeans live in San Telmo, an area
they elected for its old houses, its people, its history and
its magic. In the last few years many new hostels, hotels and
restaurants have opened up as well as new markets and design
shops, satisfying the growing interest on this popular area.
San Telmo has it all.History, present and future. It is full
of lively culture and personality.
Certainly it is one of the most diverse and interesting
districts of the city of Buenos Aires.
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