Boundaries
Streets and avenues: La Pampa, Presidente Figueroa Alcorta, Valentin Alsina, Zabala, Cabildo, Jorge Newberry, Crámer, Dorrego, Córdoba, Mario Bravo, Coronel Díaz, General Las Heras, Table, Jerónimo Salguero, Costanera Rafael Obligado.
A Little bit of history on the neighborhood
The neighbourhood is much related with Juan Manuel de Rosas, who around 1836 purchased this land, building on them his residence in the south east corner of nowadays avenues Libertador and Sarmiento. The house has been taken and occupied by Justo José de Urquiza when Rosas has been defeated at the Caseros battle. Years later it turned into a Militar Academy. And it was finally demolished in 1899 by his arch-enemy Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. This Rosas Caseron was placed on Libertador Avenue and Sarmiento, in year 2013 during April and May heavy rains and by chance remains of the Militar Academy loos have been found. If you like urban archaeology the authority on this matter in regards to Buenos Aires city is Daniel Schavelzon.
The origin of the name: There is on-going dissent on the origin of the name. It is being said it refers to Juan Dominguez Palermo, the former owner of the lands by beginnings of XVII century; other voices refer the name to the image of San Benito de Palermo, venerated nearby.
Palermo is the largest of the neighbourhoods and you will find it has been nowadays divided into: Alto Palermo, Villa Freud, Plaza Italia-Pacífico, Palermo Chico, Nueva Palermo, Palermo Viejo, Bosques de Palermo e Hipodromo, Costanera Norte.
It occupies the area of Coronel Diaz, streets Salguero, Vidt, Bulnes and Santa Fe Avenue. The area was until the 1960s taken by old bars, where Adolfo Bioy Casares situated many of his literary characters and “inquilinatos”, large houses divided into rooms which were given into lease. Large families were living overcrowded. The area was transformed since 1991 and commercially boomed with the built up of Alto Palermo Shopping Centre, you can access the Mall on Line D of Metropolitan Subway. It´s on Bulnes station.
It’s situated on Coronel Diaz Avenue, where until 1960s the Old Penitentiary was placed. It was demolished in 1961 and until 1982 the site was quite abandoned. The movie director and writer Eduardo Mignona made a movie on a runaway from this prison occurring in year 1928.
During summer hot days you will find Argentinians pretending this is a beach and lying on the grass taking sun baths.
VILLA FREUD
A micro-neighbourhood within Palermo Viejo. Neighbours call it that way because of the huge amount of psychoanalysts living in the area. Argentina is the second largest population of therapists and patients around the world, after the United States. It´s no coincidence Woody Allen´s movies are so welcomed here.
Plaza Güemes which is in the core of Villa Freud was formerly a lake. It´s between Medrano, Salguero, Mansilla and Charcas. You can visit here the Guadalupe church. During the nights it is a very good place to visit its bars and restaurants full of a vibrant good vibe. During day time, local artisans fairs take place here. Plaza Serrano is a place you shouldn´t miss either.
There are many coffee shops in the area, until very recently there was one called Freud, in reference to the father of psychoanalysis, its name has been changed with a property take over for the irrelevant name of (La Place), not aligned with the characteristics of the neighbourhood (Salguero and Mansilla). Meters from the new coffee shop there is other one called “Sigi” (1804 Salguero), obvious reference to Sigmund Freud. A pharmacy takes the name of Villa Freud (Medrano 1773). As a mere coincidence the Congregation founded by the Guadalupe Church, which takes care of spiritual healing with the use of language holds the name of “Congregación del Verbo Divino” (Congregation of Divine verb).
Important area and transport hub. You can find here the Botanical Gardens, La “Rural” and the Zoo. On its corner Av Sarmiento starts and this avenue leads you to the Palermo Woods, you have to walk along them. You will be able to see the Planetarium and Hippodrome as well. Both of them are worth a visit.
During week-ends you would be able to enjoy of horse-drawn buggies, called Mateos locally like if it was an old postcard. This transport has been eradicated of Buenos Aires City from 1° July 1966 as blood drive is forbidden by law since then but a few still function only in this area of the city just as a fancy remembrance of old times.
BOSQUES DE PALERMO
The name of this area is officially Parque Tres de Febrero, date of the Caseros Battle in which Justo José de Urquiza defeated Juan Manuel de Rosas, owner of the land. The project has been started by 1874 and later works have been performed by landscaper Carlos Thays on 1913, this way the city gained 150 ha of woods and gardens where 194 bird species could be found. During week-ends and holidays this turns into a pedestrian area so people can run, cycle, practice sports or just rest.
On Square Dr. Benjamín A. Gould in this area you will find the Planetarium Galileo Galilei, which has been built on 1962 by architect Enrique Jan and Engineer Carlos Langer, who found inspiration on Saturn’s shape though they wanted to shape the building into an space shift. It´s half spherical ceiling turns into a large screen where the sky you can appreciate is as clear as the one you can see on any clear night in any part of the world. In its gardens there is a solar clock built for the Buenos Aires latitude.
Important area and transport hub. You can find here the Botanical Gardens, La “Rural” and the Zoo. On its corner Av Sarmiento starts and this avenue leads you to the Palermo Woods, you have to walk along them. You will be able to see the Planetarium.
On Sarmiento and Libertador Avenue , it is in place the only monument to Little Red Riding Hood. Built on marble, by French sculptor Jean Carlus, it is unique by its characteristics. And it is emplaced in the area where the remaining of Juan Manuel de Rosas may lie underneath.
MUSEO SÍVORI
On 555 Avenida Infanta Isabel it could be found the Sivori Museum, one of the oldest ones under the ruling of the City of Buenos Aires, it has been created in 1934 and it suffered so many relocations until in 1966, when it overtook the emplacement of “El Hostal del Ciervo” in front of the bridge above the lake at the Rosedal. It keeps more than 4500 masterpieces of art: sculptures, tapestries, and important collections of drawings and engravings.
ROSEDAL
The Rosaleda or Rosedal goes back to 1914. The idea has been promoted by Carlos Thays, celeb by his landscaping of Buenos Aires. Gems of the most beautiful rose plants could be requested and hence delivered to the neighbours and they were taught on how to take care of them. Rosedal is populated of marble and cooper masterpieces of art.
PATIO ANDALUZ
Please appreciate the Patio Andaluz on Iraola Avenue between Infanta Isabel Avenue and Presidente Pedro Montti Avenue. It may have been a garden for carnations. Patio Andaluz has been donated by County Council of Seville, most of its materials proceed from there. It’s a gazebo (glorieta) with a ceramic fountain at its centre. At the base of the fountain it can be read “A la generosa y opulenta Ciudad de Buenos Aires en testimonio y comunicación espiritual, Sevilla ofrece esta muestra de la industria de Triana, el barrio de los laboriosos alfareros y de los intrépidos navegantes”.
CIRCULO DE AMIGOS AND HANSEN’S
On Figueroa Alcorta and Casares Avenue it is emplaced the Jorge Newberry park, it was named Circuito KDT, nowadays it took the name of Cículo de Amigos, place where many differents sports can be practiced, You can go there and pay for the day. In the surroundings there is a construction that goes back to 1877, which was born as Kiosco Casares, known as El Tambito because during day hours it was working as an authentic milking yard. It was around the corner of Hansen’s (Lo de Hansen) and it was a meeting place of customers related to the tango dancing birth.
VELÓDROMO
The cycle track was built on 1950n for the making of Panamerican Games that took place in Buenos Aires. During the years 1955 and 1960 it has been closed and the site was overtaken by the military.
On the land just crossing the Avenue you would be able the appreciate the Japanese Gardens, designed and built by engineers Isakari and Yatsuo Inomata, both graduated from the Tokyo University. This is an invitation to peace and relaxation and a divine encounter with the Supreme Being.
HIPÓDROMO ARGENTINO
The main building goes back to 1908, it´s built on stone and concrete, masterpiece of French architect Louis Faure Dujarric. The Tattersall (place of horses sales and betting) was designed by Italian architect Virgilio Cestari, soon after its privatization it turned into a party hall. Its history goes back to year 1864 when the idea of a society in charge of the construction of a park where the hippodrome could work came up. This is when the Society of Argentinian Hippodrome was raised.
The inauguration was on 7th May 1876, It´s surface is of 60 ha. Nearby –if you are into it- you can visit the Equestrian Museum, when skeletons of legendary horses are exposed such as “Old Man” and “Yatasto”.
LAS CAÑITAS
This area got its name during the 90’s as there was an area on Avenida Luis María Campos called “El camino de las cañitas”. From a material perspective the most attractive site is the Santa Adela church and its façade. It is built on neo colonial style. It has a green gate and on its tope there is a figure within a niche. It´s architect was Carlos Massa and its construction goes back to 1940. (195 Luis Maria Campos Avenue).
On 400 Luis María Campos you will find the Superior School of War, created by 1900. The building goes back to 1939, Its major goal is the education of Country Officials.
The Regimiento de Granaderos José de San Martín is situated from 1908 on Gutenberg Street, name that turned into Luis Maria Campos. This is the escorting regiment of the Republic President.. In a room protected by a blindex glass it is being kept and exhibited the curved sword that has been used by Capitán San Martín on his military campaigns (554 Luis Maria Campos).
At short distance its placed the Militar Hospital Dr. Cosme Argerich. Its first constructions go back to 1939, afterwards it suffered modifications.
Villa Ombúes which was property of the Tornquist family keeps nowadays part of the projected vegetation by Carlos Thays on 1908. It is on Luis María Campos and Olleros. This corner has been a barrach and guard of the “Rosas colorados”. There was a cattle slaughterhouse.
On the site that belonged to the Alzaga Unzué Family is placed the Germany Embassy (1055 Villanueva).
A few meters only from here you will find the Convent of Benedictins Sisters where they teach Gregorian singing. (2038 Maure).
The San Benito Abby is built on the gully of Luis María Campos. It´s built in new Romanic style and it is to highlight the Christ on its altar pending on invisible wires. The Abby has been built on 1925. During many years celebrations were carried on while Gregorian singing and it is emplaced In part of the site that housed to José Hernandez, author of the Martin Fierro.
The old Jockey Club print factory where the brochures and programmes for the horse races were printed has been restaured and turned into a sophisticated shopping centre. It was built on 1908 by architect Mario Randle, it has been annexed to an old stud where it is said Carlos Gardel used to keep his horse “Lunático” (880 Migueletes).
On the site where nowadays you will find the shopping mall “El solar de la Abadía” there was a carbonic gas factory trading under the name of “La Oxígena” The shopping mall was built on 1995. And it is on the perimeter formed by Luis María Campos, Maure, Arce and Gorostiaga.