Charming in springtime and refreshing in summer, the parks in Palermo neighborhood is the favorite promenade for children and adults.

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The parks in Palermo are the green area per excellence in town, stretching along the railway tracks and Libertador Avenue, from Casares Avenue to Monroe Street, in Belgrano neighborhood. Nevertheless, these “borders” also stretch to include the city Zoo and the Botanical Garden, which reach PLAZA ITALIA, a spot to keep in mind as the easiest way to reach these parks by public transport.

In mi 19th century, the whole area and is surrounding (the swamplands and the riverside) belonged to Juan Manuel de Rosas, the Buenos Aires Governor at the time. His house was located where the Zoo is now, at the south-eastern corner of Libertador and Sarmiento crossroad, the current stop of the “Mateos” or old carriages with no roof for you to have a short drive around the place.

In this roundabout stands the unmistakable Magna Carta and the Four Argentine Regions Monument (best knows as the MONUMENTO DE LOS ESPAÑOLES) that the Spanish Government donated to the city in 1910 to commemorate the centenary of independence. After Rosas defeat in the battle of Caseros and his subsequent exile, his house had several uses until it was demolished. In 1870, President Sarmiento decided a park was to be crated, which would be named Tres de Febrero (i.e. February 3rd the date of this decisive battle of the national organization of the country), thus forever uniting both factions. The park was created and designed by French architect Carlos Thays and was inaugurated in 1875. Soon afterwards, the JARDIN BOTANICO (botanical Garden) and the ZOOLOGICO (Zoo) were built (see our article of Children).

In the 80 hectare Tres de Febrero park you can find forests, lakes and gardens in different styles and so far, it has been the locals’ favorite place to sunbathe, do some exercise or just go for a stroll on weekends. In early summer, when the jacaranda trees bloom, the landscape combines the green tones with large lavender spots in one of the most beautiful pictures you can have in Buenos Aires.

In early 20th century, the park, with its huge dimensions, was the seat of several famous tango bars such as Lo de Hansen (near the Planetarium) and Armenonville (on the corner of Figueroa Alcorta Avenue and Salgero Street) that no longer exist. Tango had another source of inspiration in Palermo thanks to the HORSE RACING TRACK (called “National”, or National, in those times), situated on the corner of Libertador and Dorrego. Opposite the track is the CAMPO ARGENTINO DE POLO (Argentine Polo Field), where the Polo Open takes place (see Football & Polo).

Surrounded by Iraola, Presidente Montt and Infanta Isabel Streets, is the heart of the park- the ROSEDAL. This beautiful, well-kept rose garden holds over 15000 plants of over 1100 different species. By late October, it’s a pleasure to walk along the gravel paths and be surrounded by color and perfume. Experts from the International New Roses Contest regularly evaluate these rose bushes. A gazebo covered with climbing vine species lines the park’s lake. You can reach the garden either crossing a nice cement-wood bridge with a pergola built in 1914 or walking along the so called Garden of the Poets, a wide avenue with a fountain and busts of Shackespeare, Dante and Rosalia de Castro, amongst others.

Very close to it is the nice Andalusia Patio (Patio Andaluz), a donation of the Seville City Hall, inaugurated in 1929, where there is a colorful majolica fountain at the center of a pergola and a gazebo, with benches shaded by tall, thick trees for you to rest. Opposite the Rosedal bridge, the MUSEO DE ARTES PLASTICAS ENRIQUE SIVORI (Enrique Sivori Fine Arts Museum) is situated in a Norman style house (like all the other buildings in the park, which were inspired in Biarritz, the beach resort in fashion at that time). This dwelling originally served as a dairy farm and, later, as an elegant coffee shop called El Hostal del Ciervo (the Deer Hostel) after a deer sculpture nearby. From 2995 to 1996, the building was restored to perform its current functions. On weekends, the lake is one of the few safe places in the city where children can ride their bicycles and inline skates, which you will be able to rent in the surroundings of the Museum. It is advisable to consider that nowadays, the same area becomes the red light district of the city at night, where transvestites meet.

In the park there is an 8-km bicycle track that starts in Casares Avenue, throughout Figueroa Alcorta, Udaondo and Libertador Avenues, and ends in Vedia Street, in Nuñes neightborhood. This route is recommended for adults only, since the traffic in Buenos Aires is not safe for adult bikers, let alone children. You can take a nice walk along Figueroa Alcorta Avenue to the north and reach LAGO REGATAS (Regattas Lake), a larger lake opposite the CITY GOLF COURSE (Campo de Golf de la Ciudad), which is open to the public. Taking the crossroad of Sarmiento and Libertador Avenues as a starting point, to the east is the PLANETARIO GALILEO GALILEI (Galileo Galilei Planetarium) on Sarmiento and Belisario Roldan Streets (see our article on Children). You will be able to see in the distance its distinctive dome arising from the green surroundings.

Quite near there is the JARDIN JAPONES (Japanese Garden), one of the most beautiful promenades in the neighborhood. The Garden was inaugurated on February 3rd, 1967 to honor the visit of Crown Prince Akihito and his wife, Princess Michiko (now Emperor and Empress of Japan). Ten years later, a Japanese landscape artist redesigned the place drawing inspiration from the gardens of Zen temples. In November 1981, a tea house was built and, since July 1989, it is being managed by the FUNDACION CULTURAL ARGENTINO-JAPONESA (Argentine-Japanese Cultural Foundation). This garden, covered with azaleas and shared by pine trees and ginkgoes, is set around an artificial lake where hundreds of carps live.

The restaurant and tea house are decorated in Oriental style. By crossing Libertador Avenue towards Santa Fe Avenue, you will reach the MUSEO EVITA (Evita Museum) on Lafinur and Gutierrez Streets. The Museum is situated in an old Spanish styled house that once served as the house for the Eva Peron Foundation and now keeps the belongings and memorabilia of the most famous Argentine woman in the world. The museum was inaugurated in 2002. Garments, personal belongings, family souvenirs, medals and other items are in exhibition there for visitors to get acquainted with Eva’s short life. Two blocks ahead, the 7 hectare Jardin Botanico (Botanical Garden) is an oasis of tranquility and silence around Santa Fe, Las Heras Avenues and Republica Arabe Siria Street. In the garden there over 7000 botanical species selected in 1898 by the great landscape artist Carlos Thays. In the site there are also 5 greenhouses, one of them was brought from Paris after being awarded a prize in the famous Fair in which the Eiffel Tower was exhibited. The English styled main building was built in 1881 and is now being restored. The Botanical Garden has specialized library open to the public, and a large, well fed cat population.

Fuente: Revista LUGARES (The Best of Buenos Aires).

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