Buenos Aires Travel Guide

La Boca

La Boca ('the mouth'), situated in the south-east of Beunos Aires at the mouth of the Riachuelo, is the most colourful neighbourhood or in Buenos Aires, original home of both football legend Diego Maradona and the tango. An assortment of brightly-painted low houses made of wood and metal line the streets, including the famed main street Caminito, in this poor but happy area full of artisans, painters, street performers, cantinas and open-air tango shows. The neighbourhood was originally settled by Italian immigrants from Genoa, most of whom came to work in the docks. Residents today are still mostly of European descent, from Italian, spanish and French to German, Arab and Basque. Today it is frequented by crowds of tourists who come to soak up the lively atmosphere, watch tango dancers on the streets and squares, and sit in picturesque cafes while sipping coffee and beer. La Boca residents are independent and fiery, as evidenced by their short-lived 1882 secession from Argentina t