Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Congresso Square
- Palacio Barolo
- Teatro Colón
- Retiro Neighborhood
- Plaza San Martin
Photos & Highlights
- Decipher hidden messages in the ornate facade of Palacio Barolo, a Dantean allegory waiting to be unraveled.
- Create unforgettable memories of hidden gems discovered, secrets unveiled, and lively discussions amid the grand architecture of Buenos Aires
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Tour Description
Ready to experience Buenos Aires as it was in its golden age? Transport yourself back in time, hearing the cobblestone streets echo with horse-drawn carriages and smelling the scent of jasmine as it’s carried on the breeze. This is Buenos Aires, the "Paris of South America.”
- Meet your guide in front of the neoclassical facade of the National Congress. Standing in the presence of the building’s Corinthian columns, you’ll feel the echoes of power and the ambition of a nation fueled by agricultural wealth.
- Move toward the breathtaking Palacio Barolo, a building whose design was greatly influenced by the architect’s love for Alighieri. Lift your gaze to the heavens to take in the Gothic spires that reach to the sky and absorb the building’s intricate details that perfectly capture the nation’s intertwining of wealth with artistry. Run your fingers along the cool, polished marble as you discuss the ideas of how Argentine citizens chose to present themselves both publicly and privately.
- Stop in front of the opulent Teatro Colón, a culmination of the work of several renowned architects, one of whom was murdered during construction… Dive into the mystery and beauty of this building with your guide, and discuss the social commentary that played out alongside soaring arias, a microcosm of Argentina's evolving identity. Fun fact: This national icon is considered one of the top ten opera houses in the world by National Geographic.
- Explore hidden gems like Palacio Pizzurno, its intricate carvings whispering tales of progress and education, or the Water Company Palace, a Neo-Gothic testament to infrastructure's transformative power, if time allows.
- Stroll through Recoleta and Retiro, moving along Avenida Alvear to take in the elegant Parisian-inspired mansions and charming plazas that hold grand stories from the past. Walk the same streets as the former Argentine elite and imagine the laughter that echoed through grand salons, the clinking of glasses at lavish soirées.
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Stop at the Retiro Train Station, a majestic melody of iron and glass. Listen for the rhythmic click of approaching trains and examine the foreign influences that played a hand in the Argentine economy and social standing on the global stage.
Though your tour ends here, your understanding of Buenos Aires is only beginning to unfold. Against the backdrop of incredible architectural feats, you now have a greater insight into the complex threads that shaped a nation and a newfound appreciation for its architectural grandeur.
- You want to unravel the hidden Dantean allegory embedded in the Barolo's design.
- You're not just a tourist, you're a time traveler. You don't settle for snapshots, you seek the forgotten narratives, the secrets tucked away in every archway and weathered facade.
- You want to gain a deeper understanding of the city's power dynamics, ending your experience feeling like a history buff with a secret handshake.
Where You'll Start
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182 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
this was my first time with Context Travel tours. I absolutely loved it. Santiago was the perfect guide for this tour, and I think that he can do any other history or cultural tour. He was very knowledgeable, thoughtful, considerate, helpful, and very fun to be around. I would recommend him to anyone who is interested in learning in depth about Argentina and Buenos Aires. I am very impressed by both context travel tours on this trip.
Weining
Reviewed on:
Dec 27, 2022
This morning we had the pleasure of taking an architectural tour of Buenos Aires with Gabriel Chistik. Do not miss the opportunity to explore the city and its magical buildings with her. From the first moments of the tour you can feel how much she loves the city, and her passion for the buildings within it. We spent the next few hours moving from big “can’t miss“ attractions, to small out of the way spots and hidden secrets. She is deeply knowledgeable about the architectural styles represented on the tour, and has a story teller’s touch as she weaves her knowledge with her clear and often first hand history of Buenos Aires and Argentina.
We had already fallen in love with Buenos Aires, and our tour with Gabbie only made us love the city more. Take as many tours with her as you can!
Vanessa
Reviewed on:
Dec 24, 2022
Gabriela integrated the social history of the city and the country into the tour of the buildings. We understood so much more, not only about the built environment, but the context in which the buildings were financed and designed. And, we learned about the design of the parks throughout the city. We asked tons of questions and her answers were so illuminating. And, she quickly understood the kinds of information that most interested us. She included a little bit of relevant information from her own life so that the history became more palpable to us. The tour was transformative for our understanding of the city, its architecture, its people, its history. Brava!
Peggy
Reviewed on:
Dec 17, 2022
