The first settlers of this neighbourhood barrio named it after an existing hermitage in the surroundings where spiritual retreats took place. But also because in the year 1691, Spanish governor Don Agustin de Robles built a house called El Retiro (The Retreat) here.

The neighbourhood barrio also owes its name, since 1704, to the Compañía de Francia de Guinea Company, and later to the Compañía de Inglaterra Mar del Sur Company, sites for the slave trafficking market, who named it like that because the Cédula Real (Royal Warrant) authorizing their establishments was dictated in the Palacio del Buen Retiro Palace, in Madrid.

The first military fortifications in the area were built in 1772, and by 1792 the Artillery and Prisoners Quarters were finished. The bullfighting plaza was installed in this sector as well, where today you will find the Plaza San Martin Square.

From 1852 onwards the neighbourhood barrio acquired extraordinary social importance, due to the moving in of some of the most important Porteño (belonging to the Port of Buenos Aires) families, who used to live in the Monserrat or Santo Domingo neighbourhood barrios, south of the Plaza Mayor (Main Square).

The name Retiro was kept.

The neighbourhood barrio's structure has the Plaza San Martin Square at its centre.

Its sidewalks, its streets stand out, along with its beautiful ravine towards Plaza de los Ingleses (Englishmen Square), with its Tower of the same name.

Today, Retiro concentrates one of the biggest plazas in the city, luxurious hotels and numerous office buildings. Besides, its name is related with the gigantic train, bus and colectivo public transport stations than operate in the area, from which one could in the past, and still can today, travel to different inland spots.

The area named Catalinas Norte (comprised between Avenidas Eduardo Madero and Leandro N. Aleman Avenues and San Martin Street), where today stand intelligent buildings which hold the offices of the most important multinationals operating in the country, commenced its urban development only three decades ago.

Some traditional residences worth pointing out are the Kavanagh, from the 1940s, the Plaza Hotel and the Palacio Anchorena Palace (former chancellery building), all facing Plaza San Martin Square.

The Retiro neighbourhood barrio is well sought for lodging. Nowadays it is one of the neighbourhood barrios most frequented by tourists, and a must for purchasing original articles of the region: precious craftsmanship, leather, stones and other autochthonous products.

Attractions in Retiro