Location: Montserrat
Top Things to do in Montserrat
Top 10 Sights & Landmarks in Montserrat, Capital Federal District
The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires' European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards and parks. Cafe Tortoni, the city's oldest bar, will transport you back to 1858, and the spectacular Teatro Colon impresses just as it did in 1908. Latin America's shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards.
Restaurants in Buenos Aires
1. Basilica Maria Auxiliadora y San Carlos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 42 reviews
2. Mercado de San Cristobal
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
The San Cristobal Market was established in 1882, but the first building was done in 1887. In 1945 was finished the construction that we see today. The project was designed by the architects Santiago Sanchez Elia, Federico Peralta Ramos and Alfredo Agostin. Originally, in the Market you could buy fish, meat, chicken, vegetables and fruits. Nowadays you can find a large variety of products.
3. Avenida de Mayo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,472 reviews
This elegant thoroughfare is one of the streets bordering the historic and cosmopolitan city center.
Reviewed By WorldTravelers34 - Chicago, United States
Avenida de Mayo is one of the grandest and most important in Buenos Aires, leading from Plaza de Mayo with the pink government palace Casa Rosada at one end, to Argentina’s National Congress building at the other. It was named in honor of the May Revolution of 1810 which lead to Argentina's independence from Spain. It is difficult not to compare this grand thoroughfare to other great boulevards around such world, such as those in Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. This avenue is home to many famous buildings and architecture and home to many important historical events in Argentina's history, and continues to be the primary venue for protests, demonstrations, and celebrations. The avenue, officially inaugurated in 1894, is just under a mile long and it’s worth walking the entire length to take the city’s history. We spend lots of time walking around this area during our one-week stay in Buenos Aires.
4. Palacio Barolo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,855 reviews
The PALACIO illustrates and pays tribute to THE DIVINE COMEDY written by DANTE ALIGHIERI. This building shows a unique architectural style, mingling the neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic appearance followed by the dome, with its original hindu design, which belongs to the region of Bhubaneshwar. It represents the tantric union between Dante and Beatrice, both protagonists of The Divine Comedy.
Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada
It was a great time had during the tour (of about an hour & a half from about 11 15 am to 12 45 pm) of this 1920's building inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy in which I ascended from Hell through Purgatory to Heaven (as the floors of the Building are grouped in such way) while along the way was also like a metaphorical or symbolic "purifying of your soul", and yes it's from Heaven meaning the level with small balconies just before the Lighthouse (on the very top of the Building) then the Lighthouse itself that you get "pretty phenomenal" 360-degree views of the city especially to the west (where actually at just a very short distance from this building is the "spacious rectangular" Plaza Congreso & the green-domed building of Congreso Nacional past the plaza) and to the east (where the view is all the way to the "super tall" high-rises of the Puerto Madero waterfront and where you'll also see a little to the southeast one side of the two-sided Eva Peron's mural on Avenida 9 de Julio). As for the "structural part" of the Building: it was a "nice variety" of taking the old "original elevator" (likely the same one from the 1920's), the wide spiral stairways & also the "quite narrow" spiral stairway to the Lighthouse; sitting inside the Lighthouse with its big round-shaped light so close by was something I'd never done before (although I got inside two more of them later on in Uruguay); the fairly-big deck on the back side with the big "green facade" of like an Indian-styled architecture was quite awesome to look at (on our way down from the Lighthouse); and finally it was pretty great to get to sit behind the owner's desk in his office where there's also a copy of the "original Divine Comedy" (the last stop of the tour before going back down). So, the only thing somewhat on the downside about this site is the cost of the tour (which was 700 or so argentina pesos or about 20 US$ as of last January when I visited) was like more than twice of what I paid later at Palacio Salvo in Montevideo (which is like the "sister site" of this site) although yes what justifies the cost here I would say is its great views from above (as mentioned above) which you won't get at Palacio Salvo (with no top-floor balconies to go out for a view there & just kind of a "limited view" from its very top); and yes also my "great thanks" are to our tour guide Lucy for her "wonderful friendliness" and for her great knowledge of the Building (& the Divine Comedy too) who really just kept us all informed of all we needed to know throughout the tour. If coming by metro, Saenz Pena Station (Line A) is where to get off which is just conveniently right in front of this building on Avenida de Mayo. And apart from Plaza Congreso & the Congreso Nacional building (as mentioned above where it just takes about 5 minutes by turning left after coming out of here and going through the Plaza to the front gate of Congress), it's actually also not too far to the east end of that avenue (about a 15-minute walk to the right after coming out of here with also Avenida 9 de Julio to cross along the way) where there's Plaza de Mayo with Casa Rosada Presidential Palace & Metropolitan Cathedral (with the tomb of the libertador General San Martin).
5. Edificio La Prensa
6. Convento Santo Domingo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
Vení a conocer el patrimonio artístico, cultural, histórico y religioso de nuestra basílica y Convento que fue sede de las invasiones Inglesas, posee los trofeos de guerra de Liniers y Belgrano, cuyo atrio guarda los restos del prócer Manuel Belgrano, donde también pueden verse las huellas de la quema de Iglesias del 55, y puede contemplarse una variedad de obras de arte desde la época colonial hasta hoy, entre otros tesoros invaluables de la cultura Argentina.
Reviewed By DrErickJMannPhD - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Definitely worth visiting. I always visit when I am in Buenos Aires. Although the Dominicans occupied the site since 1606, it was not until 1751 that they began to raise the present building, designed by the architect Antonio Masella Turin. On June 29 the stone foundation of the temple was laid, but the work did not progress steadily due to disagreements between the designer and the religious order. From 1762 until 1779 construction efforts were renewed by Don Juan de Lezica and Torrezuri as the main benefactor and director of the project. The unfinished church was consecrated on October the 17th of 1783, while architect Manuel Rocha Alvarez Masella continued the work. The following year the tower was completed. The February 11, 1792, when the necessary donations were gathered, the foundation of the Convent of Santo Domingo began. It was concluded in 1805, as deduced from the absence of further records of expenses on the project. The June 27, 1806, British troops under General William Beresford attacked Buenos Aires, which was not prepared to face the invasion. On Sunday the 1st of July, Since no religious service would be given at the monastery, the captain Captain Santiago de Liniers and Brémont told Fray Gregorio Torres that should he receive the protection of the Virgin and retake the city, he would donate the invader's colors to the church. The invading force was defeated on the 12th of the month, and Liniers donated the flags on the 24th. They are since then kept at the church. On July the second of 1807 the British attempted to seize Buenos Aires for the second time. The invaders took refuge in the east tower from where they offered resistance to the forces of the Tercio de Cántabros Montañeses militia unit, commanded by Colonel Pedro Andrés García, in what became known as the Battle of Santo Domingo. The tower was damaged by cannon fire and rebuilt afterwards. The original projectiles have been removed from the structure and replaced with commemorative pieces of wood representing the impacts. In 1817, the English artist Emeric Essex Vidal visited the city and portrayed it in a series of watercolors. One which included the Church of Santo Domingo. He would comment that the building "(...) is in a state of disrepair, and has nothing noteworthy except for the colors and a fine organ." The convent photographed in 1900. During the rule of president Bernardino Rivadavia the Dominicans were expelled from the country. The building became a Natural History Museum in 1826, under the direction of Italian chemist and botanist Pablo Ferrari. It The museum used to contain some 800 pieces of the animal kingdom, 1500 minerals and an unknown number of plants, as well as a numismatic collection of over 1500 pieces. In the upper part of the church an astronomical observatory was built, and a meteorological office was run by another Italian scientist, Octavio Fabrizio Mossotti, who would also between 1828 and 1834 give lectures on physics. Unfortunately, due to the general disinterest in science most of the meteorological records were lost, some of which were used by Humboldt and found their way to the Institute of France. Mossotti's observations on a solar eclipse and the comet Encke were published by the Royal Astronomical Society of London. The ashes from Manuel Belgrano's body, after being exhumated from the church's atrium, 1902. In October the 22nd of 1835 President Rosas personally issued a decree allowing the Dominicans to return to the country and recover the convent. In virtue of this resolution Rosas was named a brother of the Dominican order. Despite the return of the monks the Museum of Natural History continued to operate in the building until 1854. In 1849 the west tower was completed. The basement behind the presbytery dates of 1873, the vestry and the chapels of San Vicente and Rosario of 1885. In 1894 the architects Auguste Plou and Oliver reformed the temple, modifying the original crown and giving it its current pediment. A mausoleum was opened in 1903 by the sculptor Ettore Ximenes and located in the temple courtyard, houses the remains of Manuel Belgrano, who was buried in the habit of the Dominican order. These were first buried under a slab at the entrance of the church, the general will and testament, which belonged to the Third Order of St. Dominic. They are also buried in the convent of the remains of General Belgrano parents, for the generous contributions that had favored the temple and the remains of General Antonio González Balcarce, Hilarion de la Quintana. A plaque reminds Martín de Álzaga, although his remains are in the Recoleta Cemetery in the vault familiar. In 1910 the convent was elevated to the rank of Basilica by Pope Pius X. The church October 8, 1922 the image of Nuestra Señora del Rosario received a papal coronation procession was a great celebration. A decree signed on May 21, 1942, the Convent was declared a Historic Monument Nacional. During the burning of churches on June 16, 1955, it was burned and looted losing most of the documents and relics. A restoration project was begun in 1961 after the destruction.
7. Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 296 reviews
Reviewed By ruthandvern - Wilton, United States
As you approach the baroque style entrance it's a humbling experience given the history of the church and compound surrounding it. It was one of a few that day that was open to the public. I took almost 40 pictures, the interior is just marvelous. Glad it was open!
8. Fundacion Pablo Cassara
9. Plaza de las Armas Argentine Army
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By ruthandvern - Wilton, United States
We had walked along the port road, hot, tired, lost. We rounded the bend and this wonderful park met us with shade and seating. We walked through the park, discovering several buildings and entities of note. The Defense Ministry, main army staff and a monument to the fallen in the war of the Malvines. The plants and trees and grounds are immaculate.
10. Plaza de Mayo
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3,183 reviews
The political center of the country, this famous plaza is the location of the well-known balcony of the Casa Rosada from which Eva Peron addressed adoring crowds of workers.
Reviewed By IN_Travelers47906 - West Lafayette, United States
You have not been to Buenos Aires if you have not been to Plaza de Mayo, the plaza located directly in front of the Casa Rosada (Pink House) executive mansion and surrounded by many historic buildings such as the National Cathedral, the National Bank and the National Museum. It is the place where Eva Peron made her speeches that galvanized the country, it is the place where after 40 years mothers still march to protest the “disappearance” of their children during military rule and it is the place where today Argentinians and tourists choose to gather. It is also a wonderful place to begin or end a self-guided tour. It is just a 5-minute walk from the upscale Puerto Madero canal lined with restaurants, shops and street performers. On late Sunday morning walk south on Defense to enter the wonderful San Telmo market, or go NW to the obelisk, the opera house, the waterworks palace, the El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore and many other sights. We enjoyed our several visits there both day and night. Suggestion: If you like photography, be sure to visit Plaza de Mayo early evenings. The palace, the statues and the surrounding buildings are all illuminated for great pictures.
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