Almagro, Buenos Aires
Encyclopedia
Almagro is a mostly middle-class barrio (neighbourhood) of Buenos Aires
, Argentina
.
The neighbourhood is delimited by La Plata avenue and Río de Janeiro street to the west, Independencia avenue to the south, Sánchez de Bustamante, Sánchez de Loria and Gallo streets to the east, and Córdoba/Estado de Israel avenues to the north.
Almagro features strong commercial activity along its avenues, and has a high population density due to the many high-rise buildings erected along the railway line. The sectional government of the 6th circuit, which includes Almagro and Boedo
, is located on Díaz Vélez avenue opposite Centenario park.
In the 18th century, what is now the western part of Almagro belonged to Portuguese
merchant Carlos de los Santos Valente and then to his estate. The eastern and northern sections were in the possession of Spaniard
Juan María de Almagro y de la Torre, a barrister. The Argentine
revolutionary government confiscated Almagro's lands, only to return them to him in 1820. Both Santos Valente and Almagro managed agricultural establishments, and did not favor any kind of urban development.
During the 19th century, most of the neighbourhood was occupied by dairy
farms and brick factories. Almagro and Caballito
were located on the road between Buenos Aires and the city of Flores. In 1880, Almagro was officially incorporated into the Federal district.
The neighbourhood came into its own around 1900, following the erection of the San Carlos parish church in 1878, the introduction of the tram
way, and the massive immigration (Almagro was settled mostly by Basques
and Italians
).
Rapid urbanization brought about the conventillos (immigrant hotels). The assimilation of immigrants into the local culture was quick, and Almagro became the birthplace of many famous tangos. Due to its proximity to the Abasto market, singer Carlos Gardel
was a frequent visitor, and in 1930 he recorded a tango named Almagro.
Many Almagro institutions became relevant in the Buenos Aires landscape:
In the 1950s, the Buenos Aires campus of the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (National Technological University) was built on Lavalle and Medrano streets. To accommodate the growing number of students, the faculty of Humanities
("Filosofía y Letras") of Buenos Aires University was relocated to Puán street during the 1980s.
Hospital Italiano
on Gascón street is one of the main private hospitals in the city. The city's Dentistry Hospital is located on Muñiz street. There is also a Library for blind people on the intersection of Lezica and Medrano.
Although many music and dance venues cater to all tastes, Almagro is a stronghold of tango. During his last years, composer and bandleader Osvaldo Pugliese
relocated to Almagro and oversaw the creation of the Casa del Tango (Tango House) complex on Guardia Vieja street.
Among Almagro's residents of note were boxer Luis Ángel Firpo, poet Alfonsina Storni
, and physician and politician Juan B. Justo
.
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Westbound traffic is served by Independencia, Rivadavia, and Córdoba/Estado de Israel avenues.
Eastbound traffic is served by Corrientes, Díaz Vélez, and Belgrano avenues.
There are no major north-south avenues, even though Medrano, Salguero and Boedo streets carry heavy traffic.
Almagro has access to two lines of the subte
(subway): the (Subte A
) along Rivadavia and the (Subte B
) along Corrientes.
The westbound Sarmiento train line crosses Almagro but does not stop within the limits of the neighbourhood.
Important bus lines are the 19, 128, 160, and 168.
. The remaining major institution, Club Almagro
has its facilities on Medrano street. Its football (soccer)
team was relegated from first division in 2005.
It is also the headquarter of the Argentine Boxing Federation.
Parque Centenario, located a little beyond the western edge of Almagro, features an arts-and-crafts and antiques fair on Sundays, and is occasionally used as a concert venue.
September 28 is Almagro Day, marked by celebrations across the main points of the barrio.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
The neighbourhood is delimited by La Plata avenue and Río de Janeiro street to the west, Independencia avenue to the south, Sánchez de Bustamante, Sánchez de Loria and Gallo streets to the east, and Córdoba/Estado de Israel avenues to the north.
Almagro features strong commercial activity along its avenues, and has a high population density due to the many high-rise buildings erected along the railway line. The sectional government of the 6th circuit, which includes Almagro and Boedo
Boedo
Boedo is a working class barrio of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The neighborhood and one of its principal streets were named after Mariano Boedo, a leading figure in the Argentine independence movement....
, is located on Díaz Vélez avenue opposite Centenario park.
History
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
merchant Carlos de los Santos Valente and then to his estate. The eastern and northern sections were in the possession of Spaniard
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Juan María de Almagro y de la Torre, a barrister. The Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
revolutionary government confiscated Almagro's lands, only to return them to him in 1820. Both Santos Valente and Almagro managed agricultural establishments, and did not favor any kind of urban development.
During the 19th century, most of the neighbourhood was occupied by dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farms and brick factories. Almagro and Caballito
Caballito, Buenos Aires
Caballito is a barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is the only barrio in the administrative division Comuna 6....
were located on the road between Buenos Aires and the city of Flores. In 1880, Almagro was officially incorporated into the Federal district.
The neighbourhood came into its own around 1900, following the erection of the San Carlos parish church in 1878, the introduction of the tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way, and the massive immigration (Almagro was settled mostly by Basques
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
and Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
).
Rapid urbanization brought about the conventillos (immigrant hotels). The assimilation of immigrants into the local culture was quick, and Almagro became the birthplace of many famous tangos. Due to its proximity to the Abasto market, singer Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
was a frequent visitor, and in 1930 he recorded a tango named Almagro.
Many Almagro institutions became relevant in the Buenos Aires landscape:
- The Pio IX school was attended by Gardel, by Ceferino NamuncuráCeferino NamuncuráBlessed Ceferino Namuncurá was a saintly religious student and the object of a Roman Catholic cultus of veneration in northern Patagonia and throughout Argentina.- Early life :...
and by future president Arturo Illia. - The Las Violetas coffee house, opened in 1884, was a renowned meeting-place. Closed down in 1998 and reopened in 2001, it preserves the glamour of its golden days.
- The Argentine Boxing Federation hall on Castro Barros street was the venue of many important matches.
- The Mariano Moreno and Mariano Acosta schools were noted for their high educational standards
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
("Filosofía y Letras") of Buenos Aires University was relocated to Puán street during the 1980s.
Hospital Italiano
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
The Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires is a private hospital in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. It has 500 beds and serves around 2,000 inpatients per month. Its main facilities cover a surface area of 78,000 m² . The hospital treats both private patients and those derived by social security...
on Gascón street is one of the main private hospitals in the city. The city's Dentistry Hospital is located on Muñiz street. There is also a Library for blind people on the intersection of Lezica and Medrano.
Although many music and dance venues cater to all tastes, Almagro is a stronghold of tango. During his last years, composer and bandleader Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese was an Argentine tango musician. He developed dramatic arrangements that retained strong elements of the walking beat of salon tango but also heralded the development of concert-style tango music.Some of his music, mostly since the 50s, is used for theatrical dance...
relocated to Almagro and oversaw the creation of the Casa del Tango (Tango House) complex on Guardia Vieja street.
Among Almagro's residents of note were boxer Luis Ángel Firpo, poet Alfonsina Storni
Alfonsina Storni
Alfonsina Storni was one of the most important Latin-American poets of the modernist period.-Life:Storni was born in Sala Capriasca, Switzerland to an Argentine beer industrialist living in Switzerland for a few years. There, Storni learned to speak Italian...
, and physician and politician Juan B. Justo
Juan B. Justo
Juan Bautista Justo was an Argentine physician, journalist, politician, and writer. After finishing medical school he joined the Unión Cívica Radical, later participating in the foundation of the Socialist Party in 1896, of which he was chief director until his death...
.
Transportation
Eastbound traffic is served by Corrientes, Díaz Vélez, and Belgrano avenues.
There are no major north-south avenues, even though Medrano, Salguero and Boedo streets carry heavy traffic.
Almagro has access to two lines of the subte
Buenos Aires Metro
The Buenos Aires Metro , locally known as Subte is a mass-transit system that serves the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first station of this network opened in 1913, the first of its kind in South America, the Southern Hemisphere and the entire Spanish-speaking world...
(subway): the (Subte A
Line A (Buenos Aires)
Line A is the oldest line of the Buenos Aires Metro. This historic line runs from Plaza de Mayo to Carabobo, and is scheduled to be extended towards San Pedrito station....
) along Rivadavia and the (Subte B
Line B (Buenos Aires)
Line B of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Leandro N. Alem to Los Incas/Parque Chas . Line B opened to the public on 17 October 1930....
) along Corrientes.
The westbound Sarmiento train line crosses Almagro but does not stop within the limits of the neighbourhood.
Important bus lines are the 19, 128, 160, and 168.
Sports
The neighbourhood was the birthplace of San Lorenzo de Almagro, which relocated to nearby BoedoBoedo
Boedo is a working class barrio of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The neighborhood and one of its principal streets were named after Mariano Boedo, a leading figure in the Argentine independence movement....
. The remaining major institution, Club Almagro
Club Almagro
Club Almagro is a sports club from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The club is mostly known for its football team which currently plays in the Primera B Metropolitana, the regionalised third division of Argentine football league system....
has its facilities on Medrano street. Its football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team was relegated from first division in 2005.
It is also the headquarter of the Argentine Boxing Federation.
Miscellaneous
Nearby Plaza Almagro park on Sarmiento street features a popular playground and a book fair on Sundays.Parque Centenario, located a little beyond the western edge of Almagro, features an arts-and-crafts and antiques fair on Sundays, and is occasionally used as a concert venue.
September 28 is Almagro Day, marked by celebrations across the main points of the barrio.
External links
- Almagro Barrio Guide and Map (English)
- Almagro history and useful information (Spanish)
- Old Buenos Aires (Spanish)
- Argentine Boxing Federation (Spanish)