BUENOS AIRES FULL DAY CITY TOUR
Get acquainted with Buenos Aires during this introductory tour highlighting the city’s neighbourhoods and attractions.
Our journey begins in Buenos Aires, “the Paris of South America”. The Northern area of town, Palermo, is a residential neighbourhood, with quiet curvy streets, wonderful parks and rose gardens, monuments, lovely town-houses and city mansions. It is an oasis to the city: it holds the city’s zoo and the Botanical Gardens. Today Palermo has developed new areas under popular names such as Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood where signature designers have their trendy boutiques offering clothes, home accessories and more. The area offers an array of dining options: think chic and gourmand!
We head to the posh Recoleta District and stroll along Avenida Alvear, the most palatial street in Buenos Aires. With its elegant architecture and tree lined promenades, this distinct area was once home to the porteño aristocracy who gave it buildings such as the Pereda Palace (Brazilian Embassy), the Ortiz Basualdo Palace (French Embassy), Unzué de Casares Palace (Jockey Club) and more. A visit to Recoleta Cemetery, an amazing above-ground cemetery lined with mausoleums and statues, is a must. This is the final resting place of Eva Duarte. Known throughout the world simply as Evita, she is perhaps Argentina’s most famous figure. The neighbouring El Pilar Church is one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful churches with its wonderful woodcarvings and silver altar from Alto Perú.
The lush Plaza San Martin is the “northern” access to the historical and financial centre of Argentine politics referred to as “la city” by locals. The area finds its heart at the famed Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada (the presidential palace). From here the Avenida de Mayo leads to the National Congress building. The avenue is flanked by architectural gems and the historical Cafe Tortoni, a legendary coffee house that still attracts diverse crowd of intellectuals and tango aficionados.
Towards the banks of the river plate, Puerto Madero, once the old city docklands, is a completely updated area with modern buildings and avant-garde restaurants. San Telmo, the old quarters of the city, keeps the traditional charm of its colonial houses, cobblestone streets, churches, museums, antique shops and the renowned Sunday market of antiques in Plaza Dorrego.
La Boca grew around the first Port in Buenos Aires. It was inhabited by immigrants, and gave birth to the Tango. Today its colourful buildings on the popular “caminito” street give it character with street dancers and souvenir shops. The area has grown as a cultural centre of artistic activities and is also popular with footballs (soccer) fans who visit the famous Boca Juniors Bombonera Stadium.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO SCROLL THROUGH OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE THE CITY TOUR WITH EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMMES
BUENOS AIRES CITY TOUR + BEHIND THE SCENES OF COLON OPERA HOUSE
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Colón Theatre, praised by Pavarotti for its flawless acoustics. The world famous Colón Theatre is the heart of opera, ballet and concert life in Buenos Aires. Hiding a secret in every single corner of its impressive building, a guided tour of the theatre takes guests to discover its century old history, the legendary artists who performed on its stage and the polemic shutdowns it suffered over the years.
The Theatre’s sublime architecture stands out in every single detail, captivating guests with its luxurious flights of stairs, sculptures and stained-glass windows. The building incorporates a great many styles that are associated with European theatres. Do not miss the Salon Dorado (Golden Room)
DURATION 50 minutes
BUENOS AIRES CITY TOUR + CHEESE & WINE TASTING
The Vinoteca or winery at Duhau Restaurante & Vinoteca, holds the best Argentine and international wines, carefully selected by their sommelier. Four hundred labels with more than 7,000 bottles, including Malbec wines, offer 100 different references. Located on the ground floor of the Palace, La Vinoteca invites guests to taste wines accompanied by a variety of specially selected cheeses from the “Cheese Room” and served by the maître fromager.
The cheeses can be enjoyed with a selection of nuts, breads and home-made jams, and optionally (extra cost) Iberian “Pata Negra” ham cured for 14 months can be included.
Malbec Wine tasting with cheese selection
(Choices may include 2, 3 o 4 wines and cheeses – rates vary accordingly) Suggested cheeses to pair with your wine
Cabrambert/Pecorino/Cheddar/Azul
SALTA REGION WINE TASTING WITH CHEESE SELECTION Suggested cheeses to pair with your wine Cabrambrie/Idiazabal/Chevrotin/Tres leches
PATAGONIA REGION WINE TASTING WITH CHEESE SELECTION Suggested cheeses to pair with your wine
Brie/Tomme/Oreiller/Ragusano Ahumado/Gouda con Pimienta MENDOZA REGION WINE TASTING WITH CHEESE SELECTION
Suggested cheeses to pair with your wine Brie/Camembert/Gruyere/Reblochon
EACH DISH COMES ACCOMPANIED BY A SELECTION OF HOMEMADE MARMALADES AND BREAD
OPTIONAL: Domestic air dried ham (14 months) or Accorn fed - Iberian cured ham « Pata Negra »
BUENOS AIRES CITY TOUR + PRIVATE TANGO LESSONS
Discover the culture and passion for Tango with all the magic and charm of dance. Learn about the magic and passion of the tango as you are taught the basics of this dramatic and sexy dance. A Tango lesson is fun, with interesting anecdotes and the history behind it... Tango rapidly becomes a favourite of all who learn it!
Bring energy and once the music is playing the passion of tango rapidly “gets in your bones”: the perfect start to get acquainted with the dance.
A SHORT INSIGHT TO THE HISTORY BEHIND THE DANCE...
Tango was born in Buenos Aires when humble immigrants developed the dance as their way of expressing loneliness, frustration, desire and energy, it was looked down by the rest of Society but became popular in the 1920's when some of the great tango songs were written, and various big tango orchestras were born. It became socially acceptable and people began to dance it in ballrooms and at tea dances, both in Buenos Aires, and Paris. Nowadays it is danced all over the world. Tango music can be slow and soulful, or fast and fun. It is beautiful to listen to, but even better to dance to!
BUENOS AIRES CITY TOUR + JUAN CARLOS PALLAROLS – SILVERSMITH WORKSHOP & MUSEUM
Juan Carlos Pallarols is Buenos Aires's most distinguished silversmith. His museum and workshop, filled with his personal collection of colonial furniture and silver objects, is in his home overlooking Plaza Dorrego in the colonial district of San Telmo - the heart of the city's antiques trade. Here, the delicate sound of chiselling covers the street noise as guests are transported back to pre-industrialization times, when every object bore the personal mark of its author, and techniques were transmitted through generations.
Colonial (as well as contemporary) silverwork has long been a passion for Argentines and it used to be a symbol of status. The gauchos (or cowboys) would wear thick leather belts decorated with silver coins. Even today a special occasion will find them in full regalia with their horses decked in silver with their chapeado - bridle, reins, stirrups, breastplates and saddle trimmings, called cabezales made of leather inlaid with silver.
Don Vicente Pallarols was the first to enter the profession in Catalonia, Spain in the 18th Century. Since then, six further generations have made silverwork their trade. Pallarols's work - exclusively in sterling (“I use silver because this country is named after the metal,” says Pallarols, referring to Argentum, the Latin name for silver) reflects both the curvaceous lines of the southern European tradition to which he was born and the imagery of his native South America: skilfully chiselled condors from the Andes, thistle flowers from the Argentine countryside or passion flowers from northern Argentina. His works are found in the Vatican and in major Argentine collections, museums and churches and in the hands of Kings and presidents. They are very often the choice of the Argentine government as official gifts to foreign dignitaries. His client list includes personalities such as Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela and Maxima Zorreguieta among many others.
Programme available Monday to Friday.
BUENOS AIRES CITY TOUR + SHOPPING AT PALERMO SOHO
Palermo Viejo is probably the best known of the new hip enclaves in Buenos Aires and one of the city’s most lively barrios, or neighbourhoods. Built in the early 20th century, this area is lined with old houses that today serve as homes, restaurants and eclectic boutiques. The neighbourhood has been divided into sub-divisions suitably named Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood.
Palermo Hollywood owes it name to the TV and radio production companies that opened offices in the area. Once these companies settled, bars and nightclubs followed and nowadays the area is best known for its ecletic offer of restaurants, nightclubs and coffee shops.
Palermo Soho is dominated by designer boutiques, sidewalk coffee stores, and trendy restaurants. Spread around the Plaza Serrano (officially Plazoleta Cortázar) this new fashionable area for design, restaurants, bars and street culture was formerly a strictly bohemian location. It blossomed into a thriving, hip neighbourhood thanks to the designers who set up their shops here. The traditional low houses have been adapted into boutiques and bars, creating a bohemian feel.
BUENOS AIRES CITY TOUR + EVITA MUSEUM
The Evita Museum traces the life of an emblematic figure in Argentine history that today still awakens love, but also hatred, and has become world-famous. Evita became a legend in Argentina’s social politics and world renowned during her short thirty-three year life span (1919-1952). Immortalized by the 1978 Andrew Lloyd Weber musical Evita and the Hollywood movie starring Madonna, Eva Peron’s life story is mythical. In Buenos Aires there are many monuments and highlights reflecting her life’s achievements. Visit the Evita Museum to come across crucial mementos in her life.
Locatedin Palermo, the Museum is housed in an early 1900s Italian Renaissance style mansion. This building was bought by the Eva Peron Foundation in 1948 as a shelter for needy women and children. Today it is home to the largest and most important collection of Evita memorabilia, one of her cars, historic black and white news film clips, her personal furniture, a bottle of her perfume, personal effects, clothes, and more. The Evita Museum opened on July 26th 2002 on the fiftieth anniversary of Evita’s death.
HOURS:Tue-Sun 11.00am-7.00pm. Closed on Mondays and on: Jan 1, May 1, Dec 24, 25 & 31. OPTIONAL: RESTAURANT
The Museum offers classical gourmet Argentine fare in a lovely restaurant with a cozy garden courtyard for outdoor dining in the warmer months (it has heaters for cooler weather).
