This traditional porteño neighborhood of La Boca owes its name to the fact that it is the mouth (la boca) del Riachuelo (“Little River”). It owes its present appearance to the hundreds of nineteenth century Italian immigrants who arrived, mostly from Genoa. The bustling Buenos Aires port attracted them like a magnet.
The "Conventillos"
Since they had no place to live, the immigrants built “conventillos,” rustic dwellings shared by several families. Since they used whatever paint was left over after painting their boats, the sheet metal houses with their small doors and windows, combined many different colors, making La Boca one of Buenos Aires’ most picturesque neighborhoods.
The Caminito
The Caminito, the ” little street”, pays homage to the tango Caminito, composed by Juan de Dios Filiberto. It is one of the many attractions of La Boca and a trademark of the city.
Considered the first pedestrian open air museum in the world, this 328 foot long street is host to different street artists whose work we admire. Walking along Caminito, we can enjoy singers and tango dancers, see and acquire artisan crafts, and admire murals and ceramics made by the “fileteadores” (“fillet” artists), painters who employ a special technique to create an ornamental art known for its stylized forms and intense colors.
As we walk along the streets of La Boca, we find replicas of the old conventillos. On their balconies are images of well-known Argentine figures-Carlos Gardel, the tango singer, Evita and Maradona as well as clothes hung out to dry just as though the dwellings were still inhabited. Many of these conventillos have been converted into small museums that show us the lifesyle of those first immigrants.
La Boca is one of the not-to-be-missed places on the visitors’ agenda and crowded with local and foreign tourists, tempted by the opportunity to buy typical Argentine souvenirs and eat at the inexpensive restaurants and pizzerias.
How to Get There
You can take the 20, 25, 29, 33 , 46, 53,62, or 152 buses.
Adónde alojarse
If you are looking for a place to stay, you can find it in Hostels in La Boca.
Recommendations
- Bring your camera with plenty of space on the memory card and a well-charged battery.
- Buy some souvenirs.
- Be careful of your belongings. As with any big city, you have to watch out for pickpockets. Don’t be afraid; be careful.
- Have a cup of coffee or a meal in one of the typical restaurants.
- Leave something for the street artists if you enjoyed their performance.
- Visit a conventillo or a museum.
More photos of Caminito and La Boca
Source: Buenos Aires Hostels + www.ba-h.com.ar the principal reference for Hostels in Buenos Aires. The website was created in 1999 and offers an ample selection of hostels, apartments, bed and breakfasts, and university residences in the principal Buenos Aires neighborhoods: Palermo, Recoleta, Barrio Norte, Belgrano, San Telmo, La Boca, etc.
