The history of San Isidro begins in the year 1580, when Juan de Garay realised the first distribution of the lands situated north of the City of La Santísima Trinidad (current City of Buenos Aires). The current territory of the District of San Isidro was within the so-called Lands of the Coast or Lands of the Large Forest.

Legend goes that while going along these said lands, a captain from Viazcaya by the name of Domingo de Acassuso had a dream, on which he pledged to build a chapel in honour of San Isidro Labrador, whose name was later borrowed to call the entire zone, likewise thus naming the current district.

Although there is nothing left from the first chapel built in 1706, its location remained the same, so nowadays you can appreciate the San Isidro Cathedral rising on the lot.

Regardless of not being strange to the industrial growth that Argentina has experienced in the past few decades, San Isidro is a predominantly residential area. It has calmed and irregular streets shaded by huge groves; its houses display the most diverse styles: Norman, Californian, and buildings of French or rather of colonial features, all of them adorned with beautiful gardens.

The city as a whole shows the image of an elegant and sumptuous locality.

There are numerous shops, important galleries and shopping malls in downtown San Isidro, as well as lavish discotheques and sweetshops that cheer its nightlife. It is the seat of important sport institutions that promote the practice of nautical sports and rugby, amongst others.

To walk across green spaces or under aged groves, and to enjoy the calmness offered by Rio de la Plata, as well as to be part of, or simply watch, the old traditions of its inhabitants, are some of the attractions you can find in San Isidro.

HOW TO GET THERE

By Car
Along General Paz Avenue, through the Pan American Route (Sol Highway), and then continuing along Marquez Avenue, after taking it at the access detour. It can also be reached from the Federal Capital along Maipú or El Libertador Avenues.

By Train and by Bus
It can be accessed coming on the Mitre Train or the Train of the Coast; besides, there are several bus lines cutting the distance from the capital up to San Isidro.

PLACES OF INTEREST

San Isidro Labrador Cathedral
This building is standing in the place where Domingo de Acassuso had built the original temple in 1706. It is of neo-gothic style with three naves, stained glass windows of French origins, and it has a 300-people capacity. It was built between 1895 and 1898, and its dimensions are: 60 metres long, 19 metres wide, and a church tower 69 metres tall with a clock on each one of its faces.

It has valuable images, amongst them two of San Isidro Labrador, one of which is from the early XIX century, and the other, from a later date, comes from Spain. There is a carving of Santa Maria de la Cabeza, from the XVIII century, though the most revered relic is a part of the uncorrupted body of San Isidro, sent by the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, in 1929.

The feast of the saint patron is celebrated on May the 15th. It is located on the block limited by Anchorena, 9 de Julio and Moseñor de Andrea Streets, and El Libertador Avenue.

San Isidro Athletics Club
It was created in 1902 as a football club, but then it was dedicated to the practice of rugby, a sport of which it was one of the first and most important promoters. This contributed to San Isidro being declared Rugby National Capital in 1972. Its current installations were built in 1926, and nowadays it develops other activities besides rugby, such as paddle, squash, swimming, English bowls, etc. It is located on 499 Roque Saenz Peña Street, corner with El Libertador Avenue.

San Juan El Precursor School
It is sitting beside the Cathedral, on Anchorena Street, within the Historic Centre. Built in 1840, it was the summer house of the Anchorena family, and in the 1920s architect Estanislao Pirovano refurbished it and added baroque characteristics to the original design.

Headquarters of the Re-conquest
This building dates back to the XVIII century, and it housed Liniers and Pueyrredón in August 1806, on their way in front of the troops that re-conquered Buenos Aires, which by then was under the domain of the British. It is located on 151 Virrey Vertiz Street.

Train of the Coast
This train was called Train of Below in old times and its railway goes from Retiro up to Delta Station, in Tigre, covering a 15-kilometre distance. It arrived in San Isidro in 1891, and was built with English materials and blueprints, in the style of British stations; it worked until 1961.

After a refurbishing process on the original stations and the construction of new ones, the service was reopened in the year 1995; all the stations were provided with better commodities and last-generation rolling material was incorporated.

San Isidro Station is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful; it has opened galleries with shops, movie theatres, restaurants, playroom for children, supermarket, etc., in an elegant good-tasted ambience, located on J. B. de La Salle and Del Barco Centenera Streets.

San Isidro Racetrack
The San Isidro Racetrack was inaugurated on December the 8th of 1935, and it is one of the most important in America. It belongs to the Jockey Club and has wooded areas, two racetracks for professional races, and a beating zone with state-of-the-art technology. Its three stands, official, paddock and popular, have a total capacity for 100000 people distributed on six stands.

Likewise, its structure contains halls mostly with a racetrack view that can be used, after filing a request, for parties and events. Besides, other important installations, such as the Tattersal, where business meetings are arranged, the restaurant and sweetshop located before the training track, are also part of this equestrian estate.

Despite the fact that horse races take place on Wednesdays and on some weekends, the establishment remains open every day since it operates as a booking agency handling bets when there are no races; therefore, you can visit it whenever you wish. It is situated on Santa Fe and Bernabe Marquez Avenues.

Church of Our Lady of Fatima
It was built in the year 1957 and was designed by architects Ellis and Craveri; and although simple materials were used on its construction, its architectonic characteristics make of it a notable work. It stands out for having a look other than that usually expected for a temple.

It can be visited every day from 8:00 till 12:00 hours, and from 14:00 till 20:00 hours. It is located on 13.900 El Libertador Avenue, corner with Alvear.

Municipal Block
It is composed by buildings from different times and varied architectonic features, being the oldest a big house from the XVIII century that belonged to Fernando Alfaro, which has no cut corner. There is a building of Italian style on 25 de Mayo Street, built in 1875 by Pedro Benoit; the house called Las Brisas, built in the XIX century, is standing on the corner of 9 de Julio Street and El Libertador Avenue. It is limited by Ituzaingó, 25 de Mayo and 9 de Julio Streets, and El Libertador Avenue.

Mitre Plaza
This plaza, whose vegetation is predominantly composed of lime trees and tipas planted in the year 1905, is located on the edge of a ravine and has two levels, with the lower level housing a floral clock built in 1913, being the first with its characteristics in South America; while the upper level houses the monument in honour of former President Bartolomé Mitre, raised in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of the May Revolution. It was declared National Historic Monument and can be visited on the block delimitated by Monseñor Menini, Ituzaingó and Juan B. La Salle Streets and El Libertador Avenue.

Walk of the Three Ombu trees and Los Ombúes Villa
This walk is on the prolongation of Belgrano Street bound for Rio de la Plata; it has a vantage point from which you can appreciate a beautiful perspective. Los Ombúes Villa is located before the walk, and it was the property of Mariquita Sanchez de Thompson y Mendeville.

Los Naranjos Villa
This villa with Italian elements is situated in front of the previous and dates back to the year 1850. It has a curb made of marble, tiles from Talavera de la Reina and a railing.

La Porteña Villa
It was built in 1965 according to blueprints from 1840, using old materials, on the lot that belonged to Don Luis Vernet, first civil and military governor of Las Malvinas (Falklands) Islands.

Brigadier General Juan Martin de Pueyrredón Villa and Museum
This building raised in 1790 is a typical house from Pompey, which is also called Ranch House of the Happy Forest, surrounded by a beautiful park with a central patio.

It was witness to important historic events; Pueyrredón organised the Hussar Squadron that fought in Perdriel on its grounds, and later Liniers set camp in here with his troops before initiating the re-conquering of Buenos Aires.

San Martin and Pueyrredón made plans to free America under a white locust tree situated in its gardens. Personal belongings of Juan Martin Pueyrredón are exhibited in the rooms of the main house and its adjacent constructions, along with suites, oil paintings, pictures, documents and weapons. It has been declared National Historic Monument and is located on 48 Rivera Indarte Street.

Ribera Norte Ecological Reserve
It is a natural zone with autochthonous vegetal species where birds nest spontaneously; you can visit it on guided tours only.

San Isidro Golf Club
It is a golf court occupying 30 hectares, whose links are amongst the best in the country. It is delimitated by Juan S. Fernandez, Don Bosco, Blanco Encalada and Laprida Streets.

Ocampo Villa
Built by the father of author Victoria Ocampo in the year 1890, it has hosted illustrious guests such as Andre Malraux, Indira Ghandi, Igor Stravinsky, Albert Camus, etc. Besides, it was the gathering point for the most prestigious intellectuals of that period. It has been declared National Historic Monument, and is located on 1811 Elortondo Street.

Monument to the 33 Easterners
It commemorates the epic emancipation of 1825, when a group of easterners (Uruguayans) and locals from Buenos Aires set off to rescue the Eastern Band (current Uruguay) from the domain of the Empire of Brazil. It is located on the homonymous street, by the Sarandí Stream.

Pacheco Jetty
It is a vantage point on the coast of Buenos Aires, where you can shoot excellent pictures and practice sport fishing. It is located on General Pacheco Street and Rio de la Plata.

Sarandí Stream and Canal
An intense activity takes place in here, for most of the nautical clubs, such as the San Isidro Nautical Club, are located in this area.

URBAN ACTIVITIES

Fair of the Artisans
It can be visited on Sundays and holidays from 13:00 till 19:00 hours on El Libertador Avenue and Mitre Plaza.

Fair of Antiquities
It works on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 till 18:00 hours in Barrancas Station of the Train of the Coast.

NATURAL ACTIVITIES

Nautical Sports
Windsurfing and sailing stand out; although, you can practice wakeboarding, aquatic skiing and jet skiing on the waters of Rio de la Plata.

Bird Watching
You can enjoy this activity at the Ribera Norte Ecological Reserve on guided tours.

Golf
It can be practiced at the San Isidro Golf Club.