Abasto, Buenos Aires
Undoubtedly, the Buenos Aires neighborhood that best sums up the cosmopolitan spirit of the city is Abasto. A few minutes away from Downtown, with the ghosts of Carlos Gardel and Jorge Luis Borges walking around, Abasto opens up its secrets to those who know where to look.
In the 19th century, Buenos Aires received an enormous inflow of immigrants, due to a State policy aiming at populating the country. Abasto is, maybe, one the best examples of this multiracial and multicultural tradition. This neighborhood, and the city in general, offers a wide variety of traditional tours and secret spots.
There are small avant-garde theaters, antique bookstores, new shopping malls, historical coffee stores, tango and milonga, parks and bars where you may sip the first and last drink of the evening. As in a Borges dream, losing your way in the Abasto cultural labyrinth is not unlikely to happen.
Every corner in Abasto has its own history. The old buildings keep their secrets and legends associated famous tango figures, such as Gardel, Aníbal Troilo, Astor Piazzolla, and even Italian-Argentine rock singer Luca Prodan.
Main attractions:
ABASTO SHOPPING MALL: Built in the building where the Provision Market functioned during the 1930´s, it still retains its wonderful design. It is one of the most important malls in the country. Kids can enjoy the Abasto Children´s Museum, located on the second floor of the shopping mall, with entertaining and educational games (3200 Corrientes).
PASAJE CARLOS GARDEL: During weekends, on this street, a fair dedicated to tango, called Paseo del Tango (Tango Tour), is prepared (Carlos Gardel and Anchorena).
GARDELS HOUSE: Carlos Gardel lived most of his life in Abasto. When he became famous, he bought this house and gave it to his mother. Nowadays it is a museum in his memory (735 Jean Jaures).
CHANTA CUATRO RESTAURANT: A legendary restaurant of the 30s, and the favorite one of Carlos Gardel, whose photos are hung on the walls (Carlos Gardel and Anchorena).
TRÁNSITO DE LA VIRGEN CHURCH: Roman architecture, with a high bell tower, iron doors and a façade to admire (3300 Perón).
