In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983 after a failed bid to seize the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands by force, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.

Buenos Aires or "Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires", usually called Capital Federal to distinguish it from the province of Buenos Aires.

Microcentro Downtown, an ideal location for visitors to be near to the main historical spots of the Argentinean capital. Florida Street is located downtown and is a famous pedestrian street of the city, where visitors can do window shopping and buy clothes and other usual city goods.

The Casa Rosada

The Casa Rosada is the Argentine equivalent to the White House in the U.S. Plaza de Mayo is in front of it, and there are several noteworthy buildings around the plaza, including the National Bank and Bank Museum, and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Florida

Florida pedestrian mall is good for shopping and also for watching the street tango dancers and other performers

Obelisco

The Obelisco looks suspiciously like the Washington Monument. From its base is a good vantage point for Avenida 9 de Julio, which at 22 total lanes is the widest street in the Americas.

Confiteria Ideal

Confiteria Ideal at Suipacha 384, is a famous tango venue featured in many films. The building itself has beautiful architecture, and there are tango lessons and Milongas (dance parties) offered there daily.

San Telmo This district preserves colonial-style houses along narrow cobblestone lanes, illuminated with pretty wrought iron lanterns. In San Telmo , one breathes the history of Buenos Aires. There is also a very exciting, underground nightlife scene.

San Telmo Market

Daily market housed in a huge wrough-iron hall. Everything from fresh basil to antique shoes and coins is on display in this permanent marketplace. Come during the week to see the local produce and meat market. On Sunday, when the action is outside, it's mostly empty.

Plaza Dorrego

The second oldest plaza in Buenos Aires, six days a week the plaza is a relatively quiet, shady space lined with restaurants and cafes. Sundays you can hardly see the plaza for the people and market stalls.

Tango in the streets

There is tango in Plaza Dorrego at nighttime and sometimes in the afternoon.

La Boca Considered Buenos Aires's most controversial neighborhood with an explosive personality. Tourists favor this picturesque district for its rich history and vibrant colors: greens, yellows, reds and purples highlight the urban scenery.

The Clara Chevalier Museum

The Clara Chevalier Museum is AR$ 3 and included a guided tour by Ms. Chevalier herself (in spanish, but you will be able to understand each other with a bit of spanish and english). She is a bit of an eccentric, but has a painting in Cafe Tortoni. The museum includes her paintings, a recreation of her childhood bedroom in the old home destroyed by autopista construction, and an old conventillo which once housed six families. There is a copy of an old deed for the property, as well as items such as a ticket printer from the old Boca railroad. You can get somewhat of an idea of living was like back then, with the bathroom, although most of it is focused on her paintings and her youth.

The Port

One of the defining images of BA is the brightly coloured houses clustered by the port / river. Seems a bit "for the tourists", but travelling here gives you a glimpse of the "other side" of BA beyond the elegance.

La Bombonera

The 60,000 capacity home of Boca Juniors - the most famous football club in Argentina and club of its most famous son - Diego Maradona. The large crowd is loud and passionate - watching a match is not for the faint hearted. Besides regular football matches, La Bombonera can be visited. You will be guided through the changing rooms, the viewers areas and you will also spend some moments on the very playing field.

Palermo Hip residential neighborhood of tree-lined streets and intersections packed with restaurants and bars.

Palermo Viejo

Old part of Palermo. Most of Palermo is filled with high apartment buildings, Palermo Viejo is the only part of the district which has low houses and a more "tranquilo" feel to it. It has also become extremely trendy with many bars, restaurants and designer boutiques.

Bosques de Palermo

Palermo is famous for its parks. Go take a nice stroll!

Palermo chico

Expensive (very elite) area of Palermo where many diplomats and VIPs live.

Libertador

Huge avenida

Avenida Santa Fe/Alto Palermo

Shopping

Jardin Botanico

Great place to go for a taste of Buenos Aires. The quintessential "cat" garden is also filled with many flowers and a 19th century glass house.

Palermo Las Canitas

The most exclusive and beautiful side of Palermo, and even inside of this sub-neighborhood, there is "La Imprenta" a couple of city blocks, with axe in migueletes and maure streets. Las Canitas remarks: It's an area with lots of nice restaurants, parrillas (Argentinean beef), sushi, specialized/ ethnic restaurants (Thai, Mexican, Greek, lyrical, custom, international, Chinese, Italian, French, German, etc). Modern buildings, nice cars on the streets, upscale people, in general it's quiet especially during daylight. Close main avenues are Libertador Ave. and Luis Maria Campos. El solar de la abadia shopping mall has also cinema, food court and cloth as any shopping mall. Outdoors close to Las Canitas: Golf course, polo fields, race, Palermo lakes, bosques de palermo (crossing Libertador Ave).

Recoleta One of the finest and most expensive areas of the city. It boasts many French style buildings, large green spaces and first class restaurants.

Recoleta Cemetery

An elegant last resting place for eminent residents. The elaborate tombs were built above ground because the bodies would float to the surface in the marshy land. Home to Eva Peron and other dignitaries. Tombs that have fallen into disrepair are often not maintained, so be prepared a few coffins! Well worth a visit.

Del Pilar Church (Iglesia del Pilar)

A beautiful church close to the cementery with a lot of history

National Fine Arts Museum (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes)

A top-notch museum - some well-known impressionists are represented, including some wonderful Degas ballerinas. The museum brings home to you the fact that BA was a rich part of the European mainstream for much of its history. Free entrance.

Belgrano A residential and peaceful neighborhood with silent streets that lead to different shops, restaurants, architectural relics and large green spaces. Belgrano's one of the most distinguished districts, and it's ideal for day walks along the wooded tile sidewalks.

China Town on Arribeños near Mendoza

River Plate Stadium

Congreso A dense downtown area that houses the legislative branch of government at the opposite end of Avenida de Mayo from the "pink house" seat of the executive branch.

Plaza de Congreso

Immediately in front of the congress building, contains some interesting sculpture, including a copy of Rodin's

Puerto Madero Just like the London docklands, the antique port of Buenos Aires has been renewed and now represents the latest architectural trends of the city. The Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur , an excellent alternative for nature lovers, lies nearby.

Puente de la Mujer

A beautiful pedestrian draw bridge.

Retiro Literally spanning from shantytown, cardboard homes, to the most luxurious restaurants, shopping, and partying, in the expat-friendly border of Microcentro, Retiro still hasn't really decided what its definitive identity will be.

The old train station

Built by the British empire and formerly the starting point of the Patagonia Express.

Plaza San Martin

A beautiful park outside the train station, next to the the plaza of the air force.

Tribunales This part of town has many theater shows, especially on Avenida Corrientes.

Teatro Colon

Currently under renovation and closed to the public, is the largest opera house in South America.

Córdoba, second largest.

Churches

Cathedral, Independencia / 27 de Abril.

Iglesia Sagrado Corazón, Obispo Oro / Buenos Aires, in neo-gothic style, well worth visiting.

Iglesia de Santa Catalina de Siena, Plaza Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera

Monasterio de Santa Teresa, Obispo Trejo / 27 de Abril, a interesting pink building

Iglesia de San Francisco, Entre Ríos / Buenos Aires

Compañía de Jesús, Manzana de los Jesuitas, oldest church of Argentina (1671)

Iglesia María Auxiliadora, Av Colón / Rodríguez Peña (gegenüber Plaza Colón), große monumentale neogotische Kirche in Barrio Alberdi

Other buildings

Palacio Ferreyra, Av. Yrigoyen / Derqui

Palacio Municipal, Av. Figueroa Alcorta

Cabildo, Plaza San Martín, colonial style, with a museum

Palacio de Justicia, Av. Figueroa Alcorta

Ex Rectorado de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - Obispo Trejo / Caseros, very fine colonial building with a museum and a beautiful patio.

Colegio de Montserrat, Obispo Trejo / Duarte Quirós. School of the Jesuits.

Banco de la Provincia de Córdoba, San Jerónimo / Buenos Aires, neo-classicistic style.

Monument of San Martín, Plaza San Martín

Monument to Vélez Sársfield, Plaza Vélez Sarsfield (Av. V. Sarsfield / Av. H. Yrigoyen)

Monument of Myriam Stefford, in the outskirts, on RP5 (Av. Armada Argentina), near the toll station of Los Cedros, a huge obelisk

Museums

Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes Emilio E. Carrafa, Plaza España, with interesting paintings

Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes Dr. Genaro Pérez, Av. General Paz 33, somewhat more "underground" than the Carrafa, interesting.

Museo Ecclesiástico Déan Funes Plaza San Martín in the Oratorio O. Mercadillo, religious art

Museo de Arte Religioso Juan de Tejeda, Independencia 122, best museum for religious art in Argentina

Museo del Teatro y la Música Cristóbal de Aguilar, Velez Sarsfield 317, Teatro El Libertador

Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Chateau Carreras, Parque San Martín, Av. Ramón C. Carcano. A little 19th century castle with a beautiful patio, which exhibits modern art.

Art Galleries in the Paseo de las Artes, Belgrano/La Cañada/Pasaje Revol

Museo Iberoamericano de Artesanías, Belgrano / A. Rodríguez, folk art of Latin American Indians and typical "latinoamericanism" pieces

Museo Cultural General Paz, Pringles/Catamarca, Bo. Gral. Paz (sometimes closed)

Museo Paleontológico de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Velez Sarsfield 249, where there is the fossile of the greatest pre-historic spider of the world.

Museo de la Anatomía Dr. Pedro Ara, Chubut 149.

Museo de Ciencias Naturales Dr. Bartolomé Mitre, H. Irigoyen 115.

Museo de Mineralogía Alfredo Stelzner, Av. Velez Sársfield 299

Museo de Zoología, Av. Velez Sarsfield 299, 2nd level

Museo Nacional de Meteorología Dr. Benjamin Gould, San Luis 801. Best museum for meteorology in Argentina.

Museo de Antropología de la UNC, H. Irigoyen 174.

Museo del Automóvil, in the industrial complex CIADEA, Bo. Santa Isabel.

Museo de la Industria, Parque General Paz, Bo. General Paz, many cars and motorbikes of local production, and an interesting giratory house (casa giratoria).

Museo para Niños Barrilete, Av. Costanera, La Vieja Usina. A technical museum for kids.

Museo Histórico Marqués de Sobremonte, Rosario de Santa Fe 218, shows the history of city and of Argentina.

Museo Histórico de la Universidad, Obispo Trejo 242, at the "Ex Rectorado" (now Facultad de Derecho), will show the university's history.

Museo Colonial Hispanoamericano, Entre Ríos 24.

Museo Obispo Salguero, Obispo Salguero 84, Art and historic documents.

Museo Obispo Fray José Antonio de San Alberto, Manzana de los Jesuitas, religious items

Museo Numismático del Banco Nación, P. San Martín, Banco de la Nación, coin collections

Museo Banco de Provincia de Córdoba, P. San Martín

Museo de la Ciudad, Cabildo, Plaza San Martín, varied exhibitions, often very interesting

Centro José Malanca, Entre Ríos 40

Centro Obispo Mercadillo, Rosario de Santa Fe 39

Parks and squares

Parque Sarmiento, Nueva Córdoba, the most popular park of the city, with a zoo, a flower garden and an artificial lake

Parque Las Heras, Bv. Las Heras / Av. Gral. Paz, a little park at the river Suquía

Parque de la Vida, at the La Cañada river, south-western Córdoba, a great, pleasant park with interesting scenery

Parque General Paz near the Río Suquía

Parque San Martín, Av. Ramón C. Cárcano, at the Río Suquía, 10 km. west of the city center. Córdoba's greatest park with a ferial complex, a soccer stadium and a (run down) nature reserve.

Jardín Botánico, near Río Suquía 8 km (5 mi) west of the center.

Isla de los Patos, Av. Costanera / Hualfín (Bo. Alberdi), an island in the Río Suquía with a little park, ideal for families.

Plaza San Martín, San Martín / Rosario de Santa Fe, the heart of the city, surrounded by historic buildings

Paseo de Sobremonte, La Cañada / 27 de Abril, an old, very pleasant square of 1785.

Plaza España, Chacabuco / Av. Yrigoyen, modern square in a rationalistic design.

Plaza Colón, Av. Colón / Mariano Moreno, Barrio Alberdi, green, beautiful square

Plaza de las Naciones, Av. Sagrada Familia, Barrio Cerro de las Rosas, great picturesque square with a hill

Paseo de las Artes, Belgrano / Fructuoso Rivera, square with well-known art and crafts market and old-style buildings

Rosario, third largest city.

Monumento a la Bandera (Argentina Flag Memorial)

The house where "El Che Guevara" was born (Urquiza St. and Entre Rios St.)

Independencia park (One of the biggest park of the country)

Rosario Central Stadium (1978 World Cup)

Paseo del Siglo (Cordoba street from Bv Rondeau till Flag Memorial)

Islands (take a boat from Passenger's terminal near Flag Memorial)

Paseo del Caminante (Near La Florida beach)

Mendoza, fourth largest, well known for its extensive and high quality wine production.

Parque San Martín

This huge park is nice for walking or biking around. From Cerro de la Gloria there is a nice view over the city. There is also a zoo with animals in small cages.

Many bodegas (wineries) offer tours

Wine-tasting events are common; check the culture section of local newspapers or ask around. A good period to visit is during harvesting in March and April. Visiting wineries often requires reservations booked in advance, (Many are closed during weekends). Some major wineries (Norton, Rutini etc.) have regular "walk in tours".

Festivals

Festivals occur often and are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. The harvest festival at the end of February is a major event.

Plaza Independencia

The central main square of the city is the best starting point to explore downtown Mendoza. It boasts some nice buildings around, restaurants and even some street shows. It is best visited at night, where you can see some nicely illuminated buildings and mostly, a beautiful big coat of arms of the city that is made of lights.

Plaza España

Possibly the most beautiful square in the city, this square is an artistic expression of the special relationship that this city (and all others in Hispanic America) has with Spain. It is decorated in a splendid way with typical Andalusian and Spanish motifs all around the place. The central wall depicts some images and texts of the Spanish colonization and it is crowned by a gorgeous statue.

La Plata, capital of the most important province, and known as "the perfect city" for its tracing (see map).

Parks & Squares (Paseos Al Aire Libre)

Churches (Visitas a Iglesias)

Museums (Visitas a Museos)

Public Buildings (Visitas a Edificios Públicos)

Another Touristic Attractions (Atractivos Turísticos)

San Miguel de Tucuman, The largest city in the northwest. And sixth largest city in Argentina.

Independence House

The most important tourist and historic spot in the city. The Independence of the country was declared here on July 9, 1816, by representatives from the different provinces. The only part of the house that remains of the original building is the room where the congressmen gathered and the declaration took place. The facade was rebuilt after the original one based on photographs of the XIX Century.

Government House

Located across from the main square "Plaza Independencia". This magnicent building was built where the old Cabildo was formerly situated.

Plaza Independencia

Plaza Independencia, the city's main square. One of the best places to see local people and a start point to tour the downtown area. There is a beautiful "Statue of Liberty" in its center made by the famous local artist Lola Mora.

San Franciso Church

San Franciso Church right across the Plaza Independencia. The interior is beautifully decorated.

9 de Julio Park

5 blocks east of downtown, across from the bus station. One of the largest public parks in the country (100 hectares) designed by French architect Charles Thays (who also designed the public parks in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario and Mendoza. Among its many attractions are the San Miguel Lake, Bishop Colombres's House (a colonial style house which includes a museum of the sugarcane industry), the Flower Clock and several sculptures scattered around the park. There are some good bars and restaurants as well.

San Juan, the tenth largest city, capital of the province of San Juan, and a center of quality wine production.

Cathedral

Work of the prestigious architect Daniel Branches Strap, was inaugurated the 16 of December 1979. The bell tower is a needle of 51 meters of height from its foundations with a viewpoint to 33 meters of the ground. It has a Big-Ben clock and a German carillon that rings every 15 minutes, accompanies the daily life on the city. To the temple it is acceded by a bronze vestibule worked in Faenza (Italy) with bas-relief of Santa Rosa of Lima, San Luis king of France, the Santiago apostle, Santa Ana and several shields and emblems. In the basement of the church is the cripta, the pantheon of the bishops and the chapel of Right Fray Santa Maria of Gold.

Peatonal Tucumán and Rivadavia

Are the most important strolls of the city, where the commercial activity is mostly concentrated. They are wide, nicely decorated with trees and other motifs, is most-go for the sanjuaninos and tourists alike.

Parque de Mayo (Park of May)

In May 1910, when commemorating the centenary of the May Revolution, this green space is inaugurated. This lung of the city is in the intersection of the streets General San Martín and Heras. It has games for children, an artificial lake with an island, fish and aquatic birds, a cycling circuit, karting facilities and lots of statues.

Casa Domingo Faustino Sarmiento

Located in the intersection of Libertador General San Martín Avenue and Sarmiento street. It was the first historical monument declared in our country, 1910. In this house it was born the illustrious educator and president of the republic, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, the 15 of February 1811. At the present time it has 9 rooms, in which relics, furniture, commemorative photographies, medals, periodics and books written by Sarmiento in its original collections, can be admired. In the central patio of the house one can find a sprout of the famous fig tree and a replica of the historical loom of Doña Paula, his mother, whom Sarmiento mentions in his book "Recuerdos de Provincia".

Seat 25 of May

Is the main seat of the City and constitutes a green space of colorful characteristics, also are the statues of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and Right Fray Santa Maria de Oro with more than 100 years. The central source, that dates from year 1871, was remodelada in several occasions. The toads extractors are work of the escultor Miguel Sugo Angel.

Aberastain seat

He was lawyer and he was Governor of the province. This seat this taken care of very well and is characterized by its permanent hygiene and in the center is the statue of Aberastain.

Museum of Fine arts Franklin Rawson - Historical Provincial Museum Agustín Gnecco.

Located in the intersection of General Paz street and G. Rawson Avenue. There one finds a valuable patrimony of paintings and sculptures, engravings and drawings of the greatest national masters. In the second one are outlined elements related to the fashion of the XVIIIth and XIXth century, Creole silverwork(silver), collection of numismatics and philately.

Museum Amid Read - House of the Tango Carlos Gardel.

This museum is located on General Mariano Acha street between Brazil and Manuel Belgrano streets, with displays and videos about The tango and its evolution in the 20th century. Conferences, discussions, classes of Violin and Bandoneón are among the activities conducted here.