Starting in San Telmo, one of the first Buenos Aires neighborhoods, we will move to the Basilica of Santo Domingo to visit the mausoleum of Manuel Belgrano, one of the biggest heroes of Argentina’s Revolution.
Then we get into the Monserrat neighborhood to see the oldest school, church, and bookstore in the city: Colegio Nacional Buenos Aires, San Ignacio Church, and Ávila Bookstore.
The magnitude of Plaza de Mayo, the French buildings of de Mayo Avenue, and the Metropolitan Cathedral stand before us, one of the signature faces of Buenos Aires. Once inside the Cathedral, we visit the Mausoleum of General José de San Martín, the biggest hero in Argentine history. Going outside, we will enter Plaza de Mayo to talk about the Casa Rosada and the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, and the Fascist Military Coup of 1976.
We leave the area near the Banco Nación, the former Colón Theater, and the former Bank of London and its brutalist building made by Clorindo Testa, one of the most prolific Argentinean architects. The direction now is lunch: during the break time of the offices, we sneak between the corporate suits into a bakery to buy *sandwiches de miga*. As most of our pastry has Italian heritage, this is an improved version of the Tramezzino, a Northern Italian deli item.
Now, full and happy, we move in the direction of San Martín Park. A quick stop before we see Pasaje Tres Sargentos and talk about the architectural style of the city and the infamous myth of “Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America.” Once in the park, we sit down to talk about the life of the Liberator of America: Don José de San Martín and his liberation quest in the continent.
We finish the tour pleasing the sweet tooth at the gelateria Rapanui, which, for me, is the best in the country to try the impressive Argentine gelato.
