Located by the Rio de la Plata, the widest estuary in the world, Buenos Aires is the capital of the tango and the football, of the gaucho and the "asado". It offers its visitors numerous alternatives to spend nice and happy moments. In the city that never sleeps, there is time and space for everyone. Buenos Aires is one of the largest cities in the world, counting a total of sixteen million inhabitants in both the city and its surroundings. It is a modern and dynamic city that still keeps some of its old traditions. It is known as the most elegant city in South America; its architecture represents the heterogeneity of its people, the so called "portenos" (inhabitants of the port). 

The aspect of the city is very diverse, easily changing from the narrow streets to the widest avenues. To catch its spirit it is necessary to walk along the streets in the downtown, to see its elegant shop widows, to take a coffee in a sidewalk cafe or to visit the residential neighborhoods, where the old buildings alternate with the most modern constructions. This is a city with plenty typical restaurants of all the regions of the country as well as with excellent international cuisine.

The heart of the city today, as in colonial days, is the Plaza de Mayo with the Casa Rosada (Pink House - Presidential Palace) and the Cathedral where San Martin, the father of Independence. is buried. This is perhaps the most important place in the Argentine history, where the second and definitive foundation of Buenos Aires took place (in 1581 by Juan de Garay). Here, the Plaza de Armas was established, surrounded by the main buildings of the city: the Cabildo, the Church and the Fort. 

At present, the Plaza de Mayo is still the centre of the most important political activities and public demonstrations. Opposite this square stands the Government House, also known as the Pink House due to its characteristical colour. It is the headquarters of the Nation's Executive Power. It is located on the ground where the old Fort and Viceroys' House stood. It houses a museum in its underground galleries, discovered while renovation works were being carried out. The museum keeps numerous objects belonging to the different characters of the Argentine history. 

On the opposite side stands the Cabildo; its construction dates back to the colonial period. Witness of the struggle for the independence at the beginning of the XIX century, the Cabildo was the first Town Hall and it still keeps the ancient architectural features. It was declared National Historic Monument in 1933 and it now houses a museum. Opposite the Cabildo stands the present Town Hall with Neoclassical features. On the northern side of the Plaza de Mayo is the Metropolitan Cathedral, the most important temple of the Catholic Church, official religion of the country. Its facade shows Neoclassical influences. 

A few meters from Plaza de Mayo is the Manzana de las Luces, a complex of the oldest colonial buildings of the city. Here stand the San Ignacio de Loyola Church and the Colegio Nacional Buenos Aires (National School of Buenos Aires), both founded in 1710 by a congregation of Jesuit fathers. Underneath, there is a network of underground tunnels built in the 18th century and linked to other old historical buildings of the district.