San Antonio de Areco is one of the oldest and most traditional cities in the Province of Buenos Aires. It was founded around a chapel built by Jose Ruiz de Arellano, in 1730, in a sector of the lands of his property.

These lands stretched alongside the riverbanks of the homonymous river, which gave place to the Town of Areco, a zone that also included Zarate, Campana, Carmen de Areco and Baradero.

Located north of the Province of Buenos Aires, the district's surface, of 852 square kilometres, house a population of 18800 people. It is currently a thriving city that keeps alive the traditionalist spirit, which is the main attraction for those wishing to follow the tracks of its splendorous past.

You get in direct contact with traditions in this place, known as the gaucho homeland; and thanks to Ricardo Güiraldes, author of the immortal book Don Segundo Sombra, the City of Areco transcends its own borders.

Güiraldes lived in the Estancia La Porteña, founded by the descendants of Jose Ruiz Arellano in the year 1812, and gaucho Segundo Ramirez, who would later be the main character in the book, was in charge of the ranch in those times.

Travellers will find old houses with their colonial iron grids and narrow sidewalks on the streets of San Antonio de Areco, where history and tradition remain alive.

Its closeness to the Federal Capital contributes with the excellent infrastructure it enjoys; although, the most outstanding thing in it, is that touch of tradition that can be found in its historic centre and its typical rural life in the estancias of the surroundings.

You can also find shops with regional articles, old wholesale shops, recreational places by the Areco River, besides the many traditionalist delegations that have the chance of taking part on the Feast of Tradition.

HOW TO GET THERE

For those coming from the Federal Capital, take the Northern Access, Pilar branch, and then National Route Nº 8, which is the fastest and most comfortable way, due to the excellent conditions of the roads.

Another way of getting here is through the Western Access up to Luján, then along National Route Nº 7 up to San Andres de Giles; or along Provincial Route Nº 6, until reaching National Route Nº 8, which will take you to the city.

A third alternative would be to take the Old Route Nº 8 from Morón up to Pilar.

The trip can last approximately two and a half hours.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Ricardo Güiraldes Museum
It was created in the year 1933, and it mimics the old main house of an estancia, protected by old cannons, an earthwork and a moat. It occupies a state of roughly 40 hectares where you can appreciate autochthonous flora. Its different rooms host, amongst other things, the armchair and the bureau where Güiraldes wrote Martin Fierro, a bed that belonged to Juan Manuel Rosas, and documents regarding the novel Segundo Sombra. It also exhibits everyday objects of a typical gaucho of the region from the XIX century, besides paintings, weapons, books and documents depicting Argentine customs prevailing in this town in Buenos Aires' countryside.

La Blanqueada Wholesale Shop
It is an emblematic place in San Antonio de Areco, and the first encounter between Segundo Sombra and Fabio takes place in it, in the famous novel written by Güiraldes. It is 150 years old and has been refurbished as it was in the old times. There are wheat mills, a colonial wagon with wheels two metres high, old stagecoaches and a centenarian ombu tree behind the shop. It is situated at the entrance of the Criollo Park and the Ricardo Güiraldes Museum.

Parochial Church of San Antonio de Padua
In the year 1714 an invasion pounded the Districts of Arrecifes and San Antonio de Areco, hence the settlers vowed to raise a chapel in honour of San Antonio in order to get rid of the crooks. In view that the oratory ended up being too small, General Ruiz de Arellano, owner of the land where it was raised, asked the Bishop of Buenos Aires for permission to build the pledged chapel; the request was accepted on October the 27th of 1728. It is located in front of Arellano Plaza, and was totally refurbished in 1869. It is the only temple existing in the entire District of Areco, and has always been known as the Chapel of San Antonio.

Quinta Guerrico
It is located on the historic corner of Laplacette and Bolivar Streets, where the grills of the Feast of Tradition were lit for the first time, and where the locals used to gather together.

Old Bridge
For centuries it was the only bridge linking both banks of the Areco River, and it allowed the crossing of wagons carrying goods until 1857, when the current bridge was built. It is the oldest in the country, according to local historical chronicles.

Municipal Palace
Built in 1886, it is situated on Laplacette Street, before Arellano Plaza, and it was formerly the house of the Laplacette family, who were prone to philanthropy. From the original residence, only the cistern in the patio, of colonial reminiscences, is still standing. One of the doors opening to the patio leads to the Fine Arts Museum, where conferences are given and music and movie gatherings take place. There is also a dancing school for children between 6 and 14 years old.

Arellano Plaza
It is located on Laplacette and Ruiz de Arellano Streets, and it is surrounded by picturesque houses whose pitted streets complement this wonderful setting.

Gassanega House
It was the house of Jose Gassanega, one of the main promoters and builders of the Old Bridge.

Museum of Science
Collections of zoology, minerals and botanic are on display in its Moreno and Matheu rooms, and an important number of botanic specimens and autochthonous animals of the region are exhibited in a small adjacent park.

Osvaldo Gasparini Fine Arts and Evocative Museum
It is a modest construction that belongs to local artist Osvaldo Gasparini, working as a workshop and a museum showing his works at the same time. Gasparini has illustrated editions of Martin Fierro and Don Segundo Sombra with his drawings.

Martinez House
The main house of the estancia property of Don Ruiz de Arellano was located in this estate two centuries ago.

Don Segundo Sombra Storehouse
It worked as a wholesale shop years ago, and it was a place frequented by Segundo Ramirez, better known as Segundo Sombra.

Former Factory - City Museum and Cultural Centre
The place it operates in was declared Industrial Archaeological Monument in 1978, for being a primitive factory founded in 1901. It exhibits diverse objects related to the everyday life of an inhabitant of any given town in Buenos Aires' countryside, along with handicrafts made by local artisans.

Riverbank Zone
It is comprised between the Mitre Railway and National Route Nº 8, and it has a length of 13 kilometres divided in four sectors:

Sector A - New Riverbank: it is located on the southern bank of the Areco River, and it extends from the Fishers Club up to the Old Bridge.

Sector B - Northern Riverbank: it is on the riverbank comprised between the Old Bridge and the Mid Bridge, and visitors can find recreational areas, groves, grills and a large swimming pool with water from the river in here.

Sector C - General San Martin Park: it begins on the intersection of Moreno and Zerboni Streets, and ends on the corner of Piola and Zerboni Streets. It embraces the southern bank of the river and here we can find the Nautical Club and some restaurants and shops.

Sector D - Old Riverbank: it is located between the Mid Bridge and the Bridge of National Route Nº 8, with an extension of six kilometres. It has an aged grove, restrooms and green open spaces.

ACTIVITIES

Atada of the District of Areco
Atadas are called those sport competitions with old carriages that have as their main goal to keep alive the gaucho traditions. They are organised during the second week of April and they consist on tasks with old carriages, tests of aptitude, obstacle marathons and drills. They are organised by the Argentine Club of Carriages and the Carriages Friends Club, groups that are backed up by the Argentine Equestrian Federation and the International Federation.

Feast of Tradition
San Antonio de Areco is the Permanent Provincial Seat of Tradition, and Tradition Day is celebrated every 10th of November, on the anniversary of Jose Hernandez' birthday. Although it is celebrated in different regions, San Antonio de Areco is the epicentre of this festivity, and you can appreciate the Handicraft Exhibition of Areco, fine arts exhibitions, and conferences regarding the subject during this celebration, which ends with the Night Concert in the Desert.

Handicrafts in Areco
There are 40 specialised artisans in Areco, dedicated to the production of all the elements that define gaucho aesthetics. You can find intertwined string works, pottery, leatherworks, silverworks, basketworks, works on bone and crosses, colonial carpentry, blacksmith works, gaucho garments, boots manufacturing, and many more that show us the importance that craftsmanship have always had in the history of traditional Areco. Tourists can appreciate this great variety at the artisan's workshops and at the handicrafts exhibition that takes place every year during Tradition Day.