The Retiro Palaces Free Tour: Stories of Buenos Aires' Aristocracy

Want to hear some of the most interesting stories about Buenos Aires’ aristocracy? My mission is to make you say “wow.”

We’ll start at Plaza San Martín, next to the monument to the Liberator, surrounded by century-old trees and soldiers on guard duty. From there, we’ll pass by the Palacio Paz, the Palacio Anchorena, and the Palacio Haedo. We’ll take a peek down Florida Street, with its bustling commercial atmosphere, and arrive at the Kavanagh—an icon of Buenos Aires modernism—with a history of love and revenge within the Argentine aristocracy.

The Palacio Estrugamou appears shortly afterward, marking the start of the most European stretch of the tour. We walk along Arroyo Street, lined with embassies, galleries, and stately architecture. We’ll also visit the Fernández Blanco Museum, a neo-colonial Baroque gem housing first-rate viceregal art.

We’ll cross over to Recoleta, pass in front of the French Embassy, and wrap up at Plazoleta Pellegrini, with a view that few tourists get to see.

I was born in the heart of this city, and my passion for history and architecture is genuine. If you want to hear stories, there are plenty of tours. But if you want to experience them, this is the one for you.