Its
port and colourful setting makes La Boca one of
the most picturesque neighbourhoods in the city.
It has been depicted by artist Quinquela Martín
in paintings that reflect the zone’s laborious
atmosphere. Its peculiar building characteristics
and customs reflect the influence of European citizens,
mainly Genoese Italians, who settled here during
the big immigration wave to Argentina, between 1860
and 1910. La “Piccola Italia”, as it
is also called, is impregnated with a Mediterranean
style, from its gastronomy, offered in traditional
Italian-style canteens, to its architecture.
What
is most characteristic of La Boca are its multi-coloured
houses made of zinc-corrugated metal sheets, many of which
are now tenement houses where numerous families live.
The colours of houses give the neighbourhood its distinctive
seal, depicting life in this place, inhabited –from
its very origins- by humble and working people. Immigrants
living here were, in general, poor people and not being
able to buy materials to decorate their houses’
facades, they asked dockyards for their leftovers from
ship painting. Such is the tradition of houses in La Boca,
that today they are true exponents of popular architecture.
Another prominent feature of this neighbourhood are its
sidewalks elevated with respect to the streets, built
in that way to avoid flooding by Río de la Plata
rises.
It is advisable to explore La Boca during daytime, when
it has a life of its own and on Sundays when lots of activities
are organised for tourists.
Calle
museo Caminito
From
Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, street artists and performers
paint, dance tango and take pictures outdoors. There
is also handicrafts markets where you can buy all
kinds of things.
"Quinquela
Martín" Fine Arts Museum
1835,
Pedro de Mendoza Avenue. Tel. 4301-1080. The
Museum, recently renewed, was built in the upper
part of a colorful public school.
Wax
Museum
Del
Valle Iberlucea 1261. Tel. 4303-0563. The most
recognizad people of the country are exhibited here
in wax statues. Scenarios, episodes and situations
give the context for the natural look statues.
Boca
Juniors Soccer Team Stadium
Located
between Del Valle Iberlucea St, Brandsen St, the
Roca train railways and a part of Aristóbulo
del Valle Ave. It may be not a place to walk by
but it's worth naming because of its Chocolate shaped
building or "Bombonera" as we call it
here.
Copyright 2000-2003. All rights
reserved. Intellectual property N 195688. Total or partial reproduction
of the contents of this site is forbidden.
ALOJARGENTINA - Travel and Tourism Agency - File No. 11774 Provision No.
1280
Calle
museo Caminito 
