Landmarks in San Antonio de Areco

January 20, 2014 landmarks Buenos Aires, Lifestyle

Located just 115km from Buenos Aires, the quaint little gaucho town of San Antonio de Areco is a favourable option for a day trip or weekend away amongst tourists and porteños looking to escape the chaos of the city. Although it may not be somewhere you go for an action-filled day, San Antonio is the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst enjoying the town’s scenic qualities. Below we have listed five characteristic landmarks in San Antonio de Areco and how you can enjoy each one.

Take a scenic walk alongside Areco River

The Areco River is located north of the town’s centre and just across the waterway is the Puente Viejo (Old Bridge), which dates back to 1857, making it one of the first toll bridges in the country. It is now one of the most picturesque icons in town, after being restored and painted pink, and has been declared a National Historical Monument. At weekends, groups of family and friends gather round to drink mate and enjoy the splendid views over the river.

The picturesque Puente Viejo / source

Learn about the town’s history in La Recova

Miguel Ángel Gasparini, otherwise known as the “painter of the Argentinian gaucho”, paints gaucho themes on papers, books, etc and displays them in his atelier-museum, La Recova, as a way of telling the town’s stories to visitors. In addition to his paintings, you will find a copy of the first edition of Don Segundo Sombra and another copy of Martín Fierro in Braille, illustrated with drawings made by Gasparini. However, arguably the greatest treasure the museum has to offer is a wall-to-wall mural representing San Antonio de Areco’s history. You can pay Gasparini a visit at La Recova any day of the week between the hours of 8am and 7pm.

Gasparini besides one of his paintings / source

Go for a drink at a boliche antiguo

San Antonio de Areco contains a number of boliches antiguos (old-fashioned bars), which significantly contribute towards the town’s charm. One example of these is Bar San Martin, which was established in 1943 and became the meeting place of gauchos, who would sit back with a glass of gin at the end of a hard working day. Nowadays, although it is not quite the same, you will still find inhabitants of the town relaxing on wicker chairs, maintaining the ritual of the meeting and drinking vermouth, wine or gin. Another example is La Esquina de Merti, a typical parrilla located on the plaza, home to numerous historical objects as well as delicious food.

Take a trip back in time with a visit to La Esquina de Merti / source

Visit Parroquia San Antonio de Padua

Parroquia San Antonio de Padua is the parish church and one the town’s finest constructions. Built in remembrance of San Antonio de Padua, the church opened in 1728 and was modified between 1909 and 1923, with a colonial feel on the outside and a mix of Gothic and neoclassical styles on the inside. Parroquia San Antonio de Padua was one of the few rural churches to be consecrated, which led to the town’s foundation two years later.

The parish church’s consecration led to the town being founded / source

Relax and people-watch in Plaza Ruiz de Arellano

The town’s main square was named in honour of its founding estancia owner, José Ruiz de Arellano. It is built around the church and surrounded by several other historic buildings and cobbled stone streets. Tall sycamore trees line the plaza and gauchos perch on benches to watch people passing by on bikes, horses and in old, rustic vehicles.