Tourism in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is in the midst of a tourism boom, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council [http://www.wttc.travel/ www.wttc.travel] Retrieved on 10 March 2008] , it reveals strong growth for Argentina Travel and Tourism in 2007 [ [http://www.wttc.travel/eng/News_and_Events/Press/Press_Releases_2007/WTTC_reveals_strong_growth_for_Argentina_Travel__and_Tourism/ WTTC reveals strong growth for Argentina] Retrieved on 10 March 2008] and in coming years, and the prestigious travel and tourism publication; Travel + Leisure Magazine, a monthly publication leader in the world-wide market of travel magazines, travelers voted Buenos Aires the second most desirable city to visit after Florence, Italy [ [http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2007/results.cfm?cat=cities Travel +Leisure Magazine worldsbest/2007] Retrieved on 10 March 2008] . Buenos Aires, regarded as the “Paris of South America,” offers elegant architecture, exquisite cuisine, a legendary nightlife, and fashionable shopping. Argentina has become famous for being rich in European flavor.

Tourist attractions

The most popular tourist sites are found in the historic city core, comprising Montserrat and San Telmo. The city was originally constructed around the Plaza de Mayo, the administrative center of the Colony. To the east of the Square is the "Casa Rosada", the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina. To the north, the "Catedral Metropolitana" which has stood in the same location since colonial times, and the Banco de la Nación Argentina building, a parcel of land originally owned by Juan de Garay. Other important colonial institutions were Cabildo, to the west, which was renovated during the construction of Avenida de Mayo and Julio A. Roca. To the south is the "Congreso de la Nación" (National Congress), which currently houses the "Academia Nacional de la Historia" (National Academy of History). Lastly, to the northwest, is City Hall."Avenida de Mayo" links the "Casa Rosada" with the Argentine National Congress. On this avenue there are several buildings of cultural, architectural and historical importance, such as "Casa de la Cultura", the "Palacio Barolo" and "Café Tortoni". Underneath the avenue, the first "subte" (metro) line ."

The "" ("Illuminated Block") area features the San Ignacio church, the "Colegio Nacional Buenos Aires", and the old city council building (1894 to 1931). This area features tunnels and catacombs, which crossed underneath the Plaza de Mayo during colonial times.In the neighbourhood of San Telmo, "Plaza Dorrego" holds an antiques fair on Sundays, complete with tango shows. Frequent tours and activities are also availbale at the Church of "Nuestra Señora de Bethlehem", the "San Pedro Telmo" Parish and the Antonio Ballvé Penintetiary Museum. The "National Historical Museum" on "Parque Lezama" is a few blocks south.In the "barrio" of Recoleta are located a number of tourist sites including the "Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes", the "Biblioteca Nacional", the "Centro Cultural Recoleta", the Faculty of Law of the Universidad de Buenos Aires, the "Basílica Nuestra Señora de Pilar", the Palais de Glace, the "Bar La Biela" and the Cementerio de la Recoleta, where Eva Perón's crypt can be visited, among those of many other Argentine historical and cultural figures.

El Ateneo is one of the city's most well-known bookshops and, having moved from its original downtown location, today operates on Santa Fé Avenue, where "Barrio Norte" meets the borough of Palermo. Once a theatre and later a cinema, the building still retains the feeling of the grand theatre it once was, despite its recent renovation. Plaza Italia, site of a monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Buenos Aires Zoo, the botanical gardens and the Palermo woods (famous for its paddleboat lake, rose garden and planetarium) are all a short walk to the east of "El Ateneo".The borough of Retiro features the retiro Railway Terminal and several other notable landmarks, like the Plaza San Martín park, its Monument to the Falklands War Fallen, an equestrian statue of General San Martín and, nearby, the Anglo-Argentine community's Edwardian clock tower, the ornate "Basilica Santísimo Sacramento" and the Art Deco Kavanagh Building, still one of the tallest in the city.

The "Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires" is located in the "barrio" of Palermo, and is one of the most important in the country. In this neighbourhood can also be found the "Bosques de Palermo", the Planetary and Buenos Aires Zoo.

The southern area of the city, (including "barrios" such as Barracas and Parque Patricios) while traditionally not a top tourist destination, is historically the source for much of the city's early tango culture. It is now home to a burgeoning arts scene.Another important tourist site is Avenida Corrientes; among dozens of cinemas, theatres, booksellers and music shops, this avenue is home to the San Martín Cultural Center, Paseo La Plaza and the Luna Park coliseum. At the intersection of this avenue with Avenida 9 de julio, the "Obelisco", the emblem of the City of Buenos Aires, is located. The Art Deco "Mercado de Abasto", which is currently a shopping mall, is also on this avenue.

At the southwest end of the city, the Buenos Aires circuit and the Parque de la ciudad are located. One of the biggest thematic parks in Latin America, the amusement park centers around its 200 metre-high Torre Espacial tower.

Buenos Aires has been attracting the largest homosexual community in Latin America. [http://www.infobae.com/notas/nota.php?Idx=243013&IdxSeccion=200803] The city, since 2006, has seen unprecedented numbers of gay-oriented cruise ship arrivals, an increase in the number of gay-owned businesses and the construction of a 5-star gay-oriented hotel; despite its relatively unfavorable location, the Axel Hotel Buenos Aires has remained popular since opening in October 2007.

Hotels

The City of Buenos Aires has various types of accommodations available from luxurious five star to quality budget located in neighbourhoods that are further from the city centre, although the transportation system allows an easy and inexpensive access to the city.

There were, as of February 2008, 23 five-star, 61 four-star, 59 three-star and 87 two or one-star hotels, as well as 25 boutique hotels and 39 apart-hotels; another 298 hostels, bed & breakfasts, vacation rentals and other non-hotel establishments were registered in the city. In all, nearly 27,000 rooms were available for tourism in Buenos Aires, of which about 12,000 belonged to four-star, five-star or boutique hotels. Establishments of a higher category typically enjoy the city's highest occupation rates. [ [http://buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/hacienda/sis_estadistico/SEC_abril_20082.pdf Buenos Aires Statistical Monthly, April 2008] ] The majority of the hotels are located in the central part of the city, within close proximity to most main tourist attractions.

For the traveler desiring more independence and privacy, there is an abundance of furnished apartments for rent. These range from low-cost, small studios to expensive, glam apartments with all the amenities one could expect.

References

External links

*es icon [http://www.bue.gov.ar/ Planning a trip to Argentina]