Buenos Aires is a popular port city on the Rio de la Plata, an estuary on the border between Argentina and Uruguay. It’s an autonomous city that is not part of the outer Buenos Aires province, and yet it acts as a kind of gateway to Argentina.

Visitors enjoy Buenos Aires in the spring (September to November), although its sub-tropical climate has generally pleasant conditions year round. Also in the spring-summer months, the city hosts festivals and sporting events that are popular among tourists, for which a variety of airlines allow you to organise your next cheap holidays.

People from Buenos Aires are known as “porteños”, or people of the port, with European roots that date back to the 16^th Century. A variety of Spanish, German, Greek and Italian influences can be seen in the local architecture. Hence, there are no dominating monuments, but a variety of touches and details that hail from across the world, and can be seen in beautifully preserved 19^th Century houses, majestic churches and opera houses.

Similarly, the city neighbourhoods are unique, with emphasis on local flavour following Argentinian independence in the early 19^th Century. An exception is the Buenos Aires Cabildo, a public building that was once the seat of the colonial council and which now houses a museum. The Palacio de Las Aguas Corrientes, Palace of Running Water, was the city’s water works, built with myriad terracotta tiles and which today houses a museum with antique equipment. The neo-Gothic Palacia Barolo rises up 22 floors and was built as a tribute to Dante’s Divine Comedy, each floor supposedly representing a verse in the Italian poet-philosopher’s masterpiece.

Buenos Aires has a world renowned party atmosphere, not least because of its national dance, the tango. Perhaps best exhibited in the city’s dance halls, plazas, glittering ballrooms and outdoor parks, the tango is both elegant and passionate, combining discreet separation between participants that achieves lasting intimacy. Interestingly, in Buenos Aires, tango-dancing schools were traditionally men-only places called academias, and the dance was only popularised in Paris in the 1920s.

The city hosts the bi-annual Buenos Aires Fashion Week, which displays both national and international designers’ collections, and garners plenty of exposure. It’s held at the La Rural Fairgrounds in February, for fall and winter collections, and in August for spring and summer clothes. In addition to high fashion, Buenos Aires has a reputation as a party city, with bars and clubs of all sizes opening their doors late in the evening and remaining open all night.

Energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to recreate itself; Buenos Aires continues to earn the accolade of the ‘Paris of South America’. Buenos Aires flights are affordable particularly between October and January, when the weather is warm and the mate, or traditional infused drink, is readily served.

Where are the Villa Borghese Gardens?

The Villa Borghese is made up of 148 acres of landscaped gardens and building housing some of Rome’s most famous artworks including the Galleria Borghese. It is the second largest public park in Rome and on weekends and public holidays it fills with both locals and visitors who come to enjoy its tranquil environment.

The history dates back to 1605 when work began to convert the vineyard by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V and patron of Bernini, into the most extensive gardens built in Rome. Further development of the garden took place during the early nineteenth century.

Highlights of the park other than the galleria include a large lake which is home to both swans, ducks and geese and is dedicated to Aesculapius. Boat hire is available here and you can row by the Temple of Esculapius. You can also visit the Piazza di Siena, an international equestrian site which was also the home to the 1960 Rome Olympic Equestrian games.

Gardens of Italy [Hardcover] – by Ann Laras

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of the Villa Borghese Gardens

One Great Reason to Visit the Villa Borghese Gardens

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the peaceful setting which contrasts so well against the chaos of central Rome.

Villa Borghese Gardens

For More Information

Wikipedia

Travel Photos of the Week: Manor home Maison Louis Richard

A close girlfriend of mine was fortunate enough to enjoy 4 weeks travelling France. She and her partner stayed in some amazing historical Chateaus, tasting the local wines and totally indulging! I get to write about it and share her photos! These photos of Maison Louis Richard near Saumur in the Loire Valley particularly caught my eye as these are the sites that are less well-known. Maison Louis Richard is a large, very elegant 15th Century manor home and also boasts a swimming pool. A perfect base to explore the wineries of the Loire Valley.

Photos courtesy of Australian reader Helen.

Travel Photos of the Week: RMIT University Open Day

We enjoyed a pleasant day to Melbourne city last Sunday to attend RMIT’s Open Day for Miss 16 who is considering studying journalism, media or public relations. Other than visiting the relevant buildings and speaking with lecturers and volunteers students who make themselves available on the day, we meandered the grounds to take in the historic blue-stone buildings which are located right beside the historic ‘Old Melbourne Gaol’. Some of the RMIT buildings and images captured can be seen below.