Palermo, Buenos Aires
From Freepedia
Palermo is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is located at the northeast of the city and it borders with the barrio of Belgrano to the north, Almagro and Recoleta to the south, Villa Crespo and Colegiales to the west and the River Plate to the east. With a total area of 17.4 km², Palermo is the largest neighborhood in Buenos Aires. As of the 1991 census it had a population of 256,927.
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History of Palermo
The land was originally purchased by the Italian immigrant Juan Domingo Palermo in the late 16th century, shortly after the foundation of Buenos Aires. For decades to come used for cereal crops and cattle, it was later purchased by the politician Juan Manuel de Rosas in 1836, who used the land to build his residence.
The area grew rapidly during the second half of the 19th century and particularly during the presidency of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, with the foundation of the Buenos Aires Zoo (1874), the Parque Tres de Febrero (1874), Plaza Italia and the Hipódromo de Palermo (Palermo Racecourse) (1876).
During the 20th century were also founded the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden (1902), the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, the water treatment building, several sport clubs, the Jardín japonés (Japanese garden) and the Galileo Galilei Planetary.
Transportation
Subdivisions
Although being just one big piece in the official map of Buenos Aires, Palermo has become partitioned into several contrasting subdivisions, the most clearly delimited of which may be considered further de facto neighborhoods of Buenos Aires.
Palermo viejo
Palermo viejo (old Palermo) is, as its name implies, the oldest part of Palermo. Delimited by Avenida Santa Fe, Avenida Coronel Díaz, Avenida Córdoba and Carranza, the neighborhood portrays an antique Spanish style in architecture, often "recycled" with modern elements.
Big international names such as Che Guevara and Jorge Luis Borges lived in this district.
Palermo chico
Across the Figueroa Alcorta Avenue, in between the San Martín de Tours and Tagle streets, Palermo chico (small Palermo), known also as Barrio Parque, is the wealthiest part of Palermo. Strictly a residential area, many rich and famous personalities own their homes there.
Palermo Hollywood and Palermo SOHO
Palermo Hollywood has become the fashion and design district of Buenos Aires.
Las Cañitas
Las Cañitas is located in Barrancas and is the dinner place of Palermo.
Highlights
The Parque Tres de Febrero, best known as Bosques de Palermo (Palermo woods), is the largest green lung in the city of Buenos Aires.
Miscellaneous
Borges
The famous writer Jorge Luis Borges was born in what is currently know as Palermo Viejo (old Palermo).
Origin of name
The name was given to the district in honour of a black saint from Palermo, Italy, San Benedetto Il Moro, who supposedly lived there in the 1500s, but who is unknown to most Sicilian Palermitans. He lived 1526-89, as a son of descendants of black Christian slaves brought over from Africa. In 1713 he is declared patron of Palermo by the city, declared "venerable" by the pope in 1743 and a saint in 1807. (source).
| Barrios of Buenos Aires |
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| Agronomía | Almagro | Balvanera | Barracas | Belgrano | Boedo | Caballito | Chacarita | Coghlan | Colegiales | Constitución | Flores | Floresta | La Boca | La Paternal | Liniers | Mataderos | Monte Castro | Montserrat | Nueva Pompeya | Nuñez | Palermo | Parque Avellaneda | Parque Chacabuco | Parque Patricios | Puerto Madero | Recoleta | Retiro | Saavedra | San Cristóbal | San Nicolás | San Telmo | Vélez Sársfield | Versalles | Villa Crespo | Villa del Parque | Villa Devoto | Villa Lugano | Villa Luro | Villa Mitre | Villa Ortúzar | Villa Pueyrredón | Villa Real | Villa Riachuelo | Villa Santa Rita | Villa Soldati | Villa Urquiza |
