Easily the most elegant, residential and distinguished of all the barrios or neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires, Belgrano evokes the figure of general Manuel Belgrano (1770-1820), admired founding father, military hero and Argentinean politician who participated in the first Government junta in 1810, the creator of the National flag in 1812, and in command of the Northern Army in 1816, where he gained important victories in battles in the provinces of Tucumán and Salta.

The land of the present neighbourhood used to be called La Calera, due to the limestone quarries that existed there and from which the first churches in the city were built.

However the origins of this neighbourhood goes back to the general store called La Blanqueada, set up there at the start of the XIX Century. A small village grew up around this store and organised itself around a central square, a church, the municipality and the houses of its most prominent and distinguished citizens.

As early as 1855 there was already quite a small town and in 1880 it was officially founded by Valentín Alsina, who settled in the elegant streets of Echeverría and 11 de Setiembre. During the Avellaneda presidency it was the Nation's capital for a period of five months, and in 1883 it receives its city charter.

Today, Belgrano has become one of the most important neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires, although it has a life of its own.

It's a country by itself, as its inhabitants like to say, and they refer to their living space, full of excellently built municipal buildings, high-income private homes and apartments, important school facilities, refined squares with attractive tree stands to enjoy, attractive recreational areas for all ages, and high class eating establishments with excellent cuisine.

This elegant neighbourhood is divided into three areas: Lower or "Bajo Belgrano", Central or "Belgrano Central" and "Belgrano R".

Bajo Belgrano is the area closest to the river and the racing course. It extends from the railroad station Belgrano C, of the Mitre railroad line, to the Avenida Figueroa Alcorta. This area, well known due to it being mentioned in several Tango pieces, was a popular place for riverside meetings and in the slum with its stone paved streets you could find the today no longer present studs for the race horses that used to race in the close by Palermo race course.

Belgrano Central has the Avenida Cabildo with its noisy febrile activity and in the very heart of the district you can find the Avenida Juramento, in which street blocks you will find art, history and the local faith in a harmonious blend.

Belgrano R is a very select residential area, with big mansions built in English country side style, surrounded by shady trees and luxuriant gardens, giving rise to an air of manorial superiority. Here you can still find the traditional petit-hotels.

This part of the neighbourhood received a b foreign influence, through the influx of British and Germans that appreciated the picturesque characteristics of the area.

All this makes Belgrano into a neighbourhood heavy with culture, tradition and history, with its traditional mansions and many manor houses that have been converted into consulates and embassies.

Its quiet streets and tree esplanades are full of shops, restaurants, architectural reliquaries, museums, libraries and big green spaces.

Many public transport tram and bus lines links it to the rest of the city, i.e. two of the Mitre tramline with its end station at Retiro, and the "D" line of the Underground or subway, on the Avenida Cabildo.

Attractions in Belgrano