San Telmo

Full of charm, beauty and personality San Telmo is one of Buenos Aires most attractive and historically rich barrios. Narrow cobbled streets and low colonial houses, retain an old time feeling…

Historically, San Telmo is famous for the violent street fighting that took place when the british troops invaded the city in 1806.

British forces advanced up the narrow street Defensa (said to be the oldest street in Buenos Aires), but were driven back to their ships. This victory gave the “portenos” confidence to stand against Spain. In the years to come, the barrio became  a fashionable and classy neighborhood. Until a cholera and yellowfever epidemic hit, and drove the rich further up the city—to barrios like Recoleta.

Many of the old grand mansions were subdivided into “conventillos”(tenements) to house poor immigrant families.

In the 1950's San Telmo barrio was threatened to be demolished, until a new law came to protect the architectural heritage.

In the 70's antique dealers moved into Defensa, and is still there today…

The narrow cobbled street Defensa goes all the way from the famous Plaza Dorrego, (where the famous antique fair is held every sunday) all the way down to Casa Rosada (the pink house of the executive power), -situated at Plaza de Mayo.

Today the conventillos of San Telmo attracts artist, bohemians and ex patriots, -but also international investors that can afford to recycle the old mansions.

San Telmo is the oldest part of Buenos Aires, and is all turrets and cupolas, churces and tiled courtyards. It is the antiques and self elected tango barrio of the city, -and an unique barrio in the Latin American continent. It inhabits many restaurants, bars and cafès—and street artists give it a swift of bohemian ambience. The rich cultural life covers galleries, museums, markets and famous tango clubs.