ABSTRACT
When first-time visitors arrive in Buenos Aires, especially those hailing from the Global North, their typical response is one of delightful astonishment. As they pass through the diverse neighborhoods frequented by tourists, they encounter an atmospheric city characterized by remarkable urban features and buildings of exceptional quality and grandeur. One circuit typically focuses on the impressive Avenida de Mayo, “the political axis of the republic,” which connects the Casa Rosada (the presidential office) with the imposing dome of the Congress. Other highlights include the neighborhoods of Recoleta, Barrio Norte, Palermo, San Telmo, Belgrano, and the city's newest addition, the Puerto Madero waterfront district. These parts of the city reflect why Buenos Aires is often called the “Paris of South America,” presenting itself as an exquisite and sophisticated metropolis modeled on European precedents, defying preconceived notions often associated with a so-called Third World city.
