Colegiales
Encyclopedia
Colegiales is a barrio or district in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. It is located between Alvarez Thomas av., Forest av., De los Incas av., Virrey del Pino st., Cabildo av., Jorge Newbery st., Crámer st. and Dorrego av. This neighbourhood offers a vast amount of contrast and opportunities. There are large and tall buildings that go from the Crámer street to Avenida Cabildo and traditional houses up to three stories. This district has become a busy one with lots of pedestrians and cars that go about on the streets. This neighbourhood is mainly residential, with some non-residential areas like the classification yard
in the north-east zone, the fairs in the south-west (where until late 60's there was another classification yard) and the UCA grounds in south-east. Some people call the south zone "Palermo Soho" though irrefutably the area belongs to Colegiales, not Palermo.
. Later during the government of Rivadavia
, in a time of gold, workers and immigrants from Europe
settled in the area thereby creating the two neighbourhoods of Chacarita and Colegiales.
developed, a football
club that plays in the Metropolitan 4th division
of Argentine football
. Today, however, it is in the city of Munro, north of Buenos Aires.
The Pasaje General Paz (an "alley" or narrow street only for pedestrians) attracts visitors near and far, with its mature trees, bridgepath streams and ornate, balconied Andalusian-style
patio. Colegiales is also one of the city's "greenest" areas, being also home to Juan José Paso Plaza, Portugal Plaza, San Miguel de Garicoits Plaza, Colegiales Plaza and Mafalda Plaza -known for its whimsical art donated to it by renown local cartoonist Joaquin Lavado ("Quino")-.
's frequent Tango
recitals there. Colegiales was also home to the city's first cinema, "Las Familias." The cinema was probably better-known, however, for the people who had it built than for its distinction as a historical first. Though now a distant memory, the colorful Anselmis entertained generations of locals with their namesake circus on Lacroze and Cabildo Avenues.
The Argos Cinema (on 3455 Federico Lacroze Ave.) was long the most popular in Colegiales, however, as it had included a cinema, theatre, meeting hall (popular with evangelists) and a dance hall. Today, sadly, none of these establishments exist, as they either shut down or relocated to the more upscale Belgrano, to the east.
Its cafés, many still open, are often not unlike pool halls, frequented by night owls and assorted "ne'er-do-wells". Perhaps the best-known is the Argos Café (Federico Lacroze & Alvarez Thomas Avenues), which still boasts its period decor and billiard tables.
The Federico Lacroze Area Development Council, on 3955 Maure Street, publishes its own periodical, El Fomentista. Socially and culturally invested, it provides a forum for literary circles like the Enrique Banchs
Literary Society and the Chacarita-Colegiales Historical Society. Colegiales is also home to a Rotary Club, on Arribeños & José Hernández Streets and a Lions Club, on 2964 Teodoro García St.
Recently, upscale lofts were developed in what years ago were the massive Buenos Aires flour mills (known also as "Silos Minetti), on 1916 Dorrego Street. Elegant and trendy, they were built into the silos themselves (see photo above) and have become popular with local "yuppies."
Until 1988, the popular Dorrego Farmers' Market operated in Colegiales, on Alvarez Thomas & Dorrego Avenues. Its stalls were run by a veritable "United Nations" of Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Japanese-Argentines and offered all manner of produce and homemade canned goods. It later became Buenos Aires' largest flea market, famous for its supply of everything from African handicrafts to antique china, costumes and housewares.
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...
. It is located between Alvarez Thomas av., Forest av., De los Incas av., Virrey del Pino st., Cabildo av., Jorge Newbery st., Crámer st. and Dorrego av. This neighbourhood offers a vast amount of contrast and opportunities. There are large and tall buildings that go from the Crámer street to Avenida Cabildo and traditional houses up to three stories. This district has become a busy one with lots of pedestrians and cars that go about on the streets. This neighbourhood is mainly residential, with some non-residential areas like the classification yard
Classification yard
A classification yard or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. First the cars are taken to a track, sometimes called a lead or a drill...
in the north-east zone, the fairs in the south-west (where until late 60's there was another classification yard) and the UCA grounds in south-east. Some people call the south zone "Palermo Soho" though irrefutably the area belongs to Colegiales, not Palermo.
History
The history of Colegiales is the same as the barrio of Chacarita because it used to be called Chacarita de los Colegiales. This neighbourhood had chacras and quintas, where the Jesuits had land which they used to take vacations along with their students. When this religious people where expelled in 1767, the lands were expropriated by the Spanish CrownSpanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
. Later during the government of Rivadavia
Bernardino Rivadavia
Bernardino de la Trinidad Gónzalez Rivadavia y Rivadavia was the first president of Argentina, from February 8, 1826 to July 7, 1827 . He was a politician of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, Argentina today...
, in a time of gold, workers and immigrants from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
settled in the area thereby creating the two neighbourhoods of Chacarita and Colegiales.
Sports
In this district the Club Atlético ColegialesClub Atlético Colegiales (Argentina)
Club Atlético Colegiales is an Argentine football club that currently plays in Primera B Metropolitana, the regionalised third division of the Argentine Football Association league system.-History:...
developed, a football
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...
club that plays in the Metropolitan 4th division
Primera C Metropolitana
The Primera C is one of the two leagues that form the regionalised fourth level of the Argentine football league system. The other league at level four is the Torneo Argentino B....
of Argentine football
Football in Argentina
Football in Argentina is the most popular sport, the one with the most players and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age...
. Today, however, it is in the city of Munro, north of Buenos Aires.
Tourism
Colegiales is one of Buenos Aires' smallest districts. Its main thoroughfare is Federico Lacroze avenue, where most neighborhood traffic and retail stores are concentrated. Alvarez Thomas avenue is a study in contrasts, lined with single-family rowhouses along one side and almost entirely with apartment blocks along the other. The avenue also separates Colegiales with its neighbor to the south, the barrio of Chacarita.The Pasaje General Paz (an "alley" or narrow street only for pedestrians) attracts visitors near and far, with its mature trees, bridgepath streams and ornate, balconied Andalusian-style
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
patio. Colegiales is also one of the city's "greenest" areas, being also home to Juan José Paso Plaza, Portugal Plaza, San Miguel de Garicoits Plaza, Colegiales Plaza and Mafalda Plaza -known for its whimsical art donated to it by renown local cartoonist Joaquin Lavado ("Quino")-.
Social and cultural life
The Colegiales Athletic and Social Club is probably the neighborhood's favorite social venue. Located on 2860 Teodoro García Street, it was famous in decades past for Roberto "Polaco" GoyenecheRoberto Goyeneche
Roberto Goyeneche was an Argentine tango singer of Basque descent, who epitomized the archetype of 1950s Buenos Aires' bohemian life, and became a living legend in the local music scene.He was known as El Polaco due to his blond hair, and thinness, like the Polish immigrants of the time...
's frequent Tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
recitals there. Colegiales was also home to the city's first cinema, "Las Familias." The cinema was probably better-known, however, for the people who had it built than for its distinction as a historical first. Though now a distant memory, the colorful Anselmis entertained generations of locals with their namesake circus on Lacroze and Cabildo Avenues.
The Argos Cinema (on 3455 Federico Lacroze Ave.) was long the most popular in Colegiales, however, as it had included a cinema, theatre, meeting hall (popular with evangelists) and a dance hall. Today, sadly, none of these establishments exist, as they either shut down or relocated to the more upscale Belgrano, to the east.
Its cafés, many still open, are often not unlike pool halls, frequented by night owls and assorted "ne'er-do-wells". Perhaps the best-known is the Argos Café (Federico Lacroze & Alvarez Thomas Avenues), which still boasts its period decor and billiard tables.
The Federico Lacroze Area Development Council, on 3955 Maure Street, publishes its own periodical, El Fomentista. Socially and culturally invested, it provides a forum for literary circles like the Enrique Banchs
Enrique Banchs
Enrique Banchs was an Argentine poet. He published all his work in the space of four years at the beginning of the 20th century, then lay dormant until his death. In his four works, Las barcas , El libro de los elogios , El cascabel del halcón and La urna...
Literary Society and the Chacarita-Colegiales Historical Society. Colegiales is also home to a Rotary Club, on Arribeños & José Hernández Streets and a Lions Club, on 2964 Teodoro García St.
Recently, upscale lofts were developed in what years ago were the massive Buenos Aires flour mills (known also as "Silos Minetti), on 1916 Dorrego Street. Elegant and trendy, they were built into the silos themselves (see photo above) and have become popular with local "yuppies."
Until 1988, the popular Dorrego Farmers' Market operated in Colegiales, on Alvarez Thomas & Dorrego Avenues. Its stalls were run by a veritable "United Nations" of Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Japanese-Argentines and offered all manner of produce and homemade canned goods. It later became Buenos Aires' largest flea market, famous for its supply of everything from African handicrafts to antique china, costumes and housewares.