Palermo Neighborhood and Costanera Norte, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This is an important neighborhood where the best museums, parks, botanic gardens and zoos are situated. It is the longest and the most forested location in Buenos Aires; it is located only 15 minutes away from downtown.
It is a long neighborhood and it possesses different sectors; its main axis is Del Libertador Avenue that begins in Retiro and ends in General Paz.
Palermo is a residential neighborhood, a wealthy one. It presents streets plenty of trees where there are elegant upper - middle class houses.
The forests of Palermo, the green lungs of the city, are located in this zone.
Palermo is sub divided in 3 areas: Palermo Viejo, Palermo Chico and Jardines de Palermo (gardens).

Palermo Chico

This is a residential zone; it is one of the most privileged ones. It is a peaceful place that is located near the main banks and corporations.
Its streets are irregular and curved; it contains green spaces, mansions and embassies.

PLACES TO VISIT IN PALERMO CHICO

* Channel 7
* Neighborhood-Park
* "El Arquero de San Sebastián" Monument
* Sanmartiniano Institute
* Victoria Ocampo House and Belgians Embassy
* Chile Square and its sculptures
* National Museum of Decorative Art
* Jose Hernandez Argentinean Motifs Museum
* Alcorta Palace
* Latino American Art of Buenos Aires Museum (MALBA)

Palermo Viejo

It was known as Villa Alvear. This was a tenant neighborhood built in the beginning of the XX century. Nowadays, several houses have been remodeled and many professionals and artists live there.
In Palermo Viejo, there are design houses, theatre rooms, restaurants, specialized stores and so on.

PLACES TO VISIT IN PALERMO VIEJO

* Italia Square  

It is located in the crossroads of Sarmiento, Santa Fe and Heras Avenues.
It is considered one of the most crowded places of the entire city. In the centre of the square, the monument devoted to Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian revolutionary, is located. In the surroundings, the “mateos” (carriages for tourist rides) can be taken.
Besides, in the surroundings, “La Rural”, the zoo and the botanic garden are situated. There are crafts fairs every weekend, there, people sell cheap second-hand books.

* Zoo of Buenos Aires

It is located among Del Libertador, Sarmiento, Las Heras and  República de la India Avenues.

It was built more than one hundred years ago. It is a place for walking, it has a variety of animal species and its architecture reproduces classic works, for example: the gate is the Triumphal Arch of Tito in Rome; the Elephants Palace is a replica of the Nimaschi goddess in Numbai; the Vesta Temple, a circular construction, presents 16 Corinthian columns.
The zoo also contains art works as “La Niña con Flores”, an art replica of the Italian artist Canova; “El Mono Caído” a work made by Passani; and a woman statue which belongs to Lola Mora.
It was founded in 1875 by Sarmiento, the ex president. It keeps an important collection of native and exotic fauna.

* Botanic Garden

It is located in Santa Fe Nº 3951
It was inaugurated in 1898; it is considered the peak of Carlos Tays` works, a French architect. It covers eight hectares where 5.000 and 6.000 plants species are exhibited.
The Argentinean flora is exhibited by taking into account the characteristics of each province. In other halls, the flora of each continent is exhibited too.
The garden is decorated with numerous sculptures and fountains. Its 7 hectares has more than 7.000 botanic species.

* La Rural

It is located between Santa Fe and Sarmiento.

It has been one the most important centers of exhibitions of Buenos Aires for 120 years.  It covers 45.000mª and it has four conference halls. There, one of the most important fairs in the world is carried out every year.

Jorge Luis Borges Street

This is a typical street. Jorge Luis Borges, the famous writer, was born on August 24, 1899, in downtown. Two years later, his family moved to the 2135 in this street. Borges lived in Palermo until 1914. Nowadays, the house does not exist anymore.

Plaza Julio Cortázar

It is located between Jorge Luis Borges and Honduras.

Artists and craftsmen know this place as “the heart of Palermo Soho”. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a fine arts and craftsman fair. In the surroundings, there are bars, restaurants, bookstores, studios, furniture shops and clothing stores. The vanguard of “porteño” designers is located in this zone, specifically, among the Costa Rica, Godoy Cruz, Malabia and Gorriti Streets.

Passages of Palermo Soho

They are Russel (Serrano Nº 1600), Santa Rosa (Serrano Nº 1700), Soria (Serrano Nº 1800)

These are vestiges of a damaged urbanization. This neighborhood was never finished. Some of the most exclusive houses are hidden within the landscape.

Palermo Hollywood

It is located between Juan B. Justo, Santa Fe, Niceto Vega and Dorrego.
The railway track is the limit of Palermo Soho. Palermo Hollywood takes its name from the film, television and radio production researches.

The zone is popular because of its bars and restaurants which offer international - typical food and diverse specialties.
It is the oldest zone of Palermo, it is possible to observe avant-garde decorations, odd and futuristic. This neighborhood is divided in two zones:

Palermo Soho: where there are modern and prestigious fashion and decoration designers.
Palermo Hollywood: which has quaint bars, bistros, restaurants, and fashion stores.
This zone begins in the Juan B. Busti Avenue. Palermo Soho extends itself from Coronel Diaz and Palermo Hollywood to the Dorrego Avenue.

PLACES TO VISIT IN PALERMO HOLLYWOOD

* Forest of Palermo

It is located among the Infanta Isabel and Iraola Avenues and the Pte. Montt and Sinclair Avenues.
It is placed only 10 minutes away from the town. It represents the green lungs of Metrópolis and it has 25 hectares covered by forest and an artificial lake with small boats for enjoying a pleasant trip. Few meters away, there is an elegant garden with incredible rosebush varieties, its name is Rosedal. The “Patio Andaluz” has ceramic fountains and a small square; all of them were a donation from the Seville city council.

* Planetario

It is located between the Sarmiento and B. Roldán Avenues.
It was declared a national Monument. Its observatory, Galileo Galilei, has a singular design: 20 meters of a spherical dome with aluminum coatings.
It researches the universe and has a museum with rare objects like a lunar rock founded by Richard Nixon.
In the entering, there is a metallic meteorite that weighs 1½ tons; it was found in the north of Argentina, in the Chaco province.

* Japanese Park

It is located among the Del Libertador, Casares, Berro and Sarmiento Avenues.
The park was donated by Japanese Company in 1970 and it was designed by a Japanese landscaper.
People can also enjoy spectacular landscapes and buy decorative plants.

* Spanish Monument

It is located between the Del Libertador and Sarmiento Avenues.
This colossal monument is a symbol of the “free nation” and it was donated by the Spanish in honor to the hundredth independence anniversary.

* Monument to Sarmiento

It is located between the Sarmiento and Del Libertador Avenues.
It was shaped on a marble base. The statue was created in honor to Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (an Argentinean noble), the president who abolished slavery and promoted education and culture.

* Monument to Urquiza

It is located between the Sarmiento and Figueroa Alcorta Avenues.
Jose de Urquiza was the first president of Argentina.

* Paseo La Infanta

It is located between the Infanta Isabel and Del Libertador Avenues.

In this singular place, there are bars, restaurants, car dealerships, an art gallery and children plays too. The Buenos Aires News is one of the crowded restaurants, mainly, at night.

* George Washington Statue

It is located between the Del Libertador and J. F. Kennedy Avenues.
It was donated by EE.UU in honor to the hundredth anniversary of the May Revolution. It is located in front of the EE.UU embassy.

* Monument to Avellaneda

It is located between the Del Libertador and Sinclair Avenues.
During Nicolás Avellaneda´s government, the law which confirmed Buenos Aires as the Capital of Argentina was signed, and also, the Patagonia conquest finished.

* Argentinean Racetrack

It is located between the Del Libertador and Borrego Avenues.
The building has the French style of the “Belle Epoque”; nowadays, it is used as venue for social events.

* Campo de Polo Argentino

It is located between the Del Libertador and Borrego Avenues (in front of the racetrack).
Every year, on November, the Argentine Polo Open Championship takes place linked to different tournaments and exhibitions.

* La Mezquita “Rey Fahd Islamic Cultural Centre”

It is located on the Bullrich Avenue Nº55 and Cerviño.
It was inaugurated at the end of 2000 by the Heir Prince of the Saudi Arabian Throne. This center covers three hectares. Inside it, there is a school, exhibition and conferences rooms, a museum, a library and two Islamic mosques.
The majestic centre was designed by Zuhair Falles, an Arabian architect, in order to hold up more than 2.000.000 faithful people in the country.

* Predio Ferial de la Sociedad Rural Argentina

It is located among Santa Fe, Cerviño and Sarmiento Avenues.
It is known as “La Rural”; in the inside, there are cattle farming, agriculture and industry exhibitions.

* Las Cañitas

This is a crowded zone where there are bars and restaurants with varied menu and cuisine, some of them offer fashion fairs on weekend.

* Museo Granaderos a Caballo General San Martín (Museum)

It is located on the Luis María Campos Avenue Nº 554.
This museum contains valuable pieces: paintings of the beginning of the XIX century, weapons, photos, uniforms. The most interesting piece is the curved saber that belonged to José de San Martin, the creator of the horse grenadier’s regiments.

* Mercado de Pulgas

It is located in Dorrego Nº1600

It is a fair of second-hand objects where interesting antiques are offered.

Costanera Norte

This recreational and gastronomic center has forests and colorful gardens. In its surrounding, there are lakes where people meet on Sundays for practicing sports and enjoying the fresh air.
During the day, it is possible to catch sights of the Uruguay Colony. There, the Jorge Newberry aero park is located. From here, people can fly to other departments. The National Museum of Aeronautics is close to this area.

PLACES TO VISIT IN COSTANERA NORTE

“Holy Sand” Thematic Park

It is located on the Rafael Obligado Avenue Nº 5790.
This park presents the recreation of The Last Supper, a Christ image (18 meters high), a symbol of the Resurrection and a replica of the Moan Wall. All these attractions make the thematic park a “Holy Land”. It is an excellent opportunity to travel through time in order to know The Jerusalem of 2.000 years ago and bring to life the biblical verses. The Old Jerusalem replica (unique in the world) covers 7 hectares, it keeps replicas of marbles and real sand streets. The lot where cultures and religions are respected possesses sceneries of the main Gospel and shows the cultures and costumes of people who lived together: Jewfish, Christians, Romans and Arabians.