MUSEUM IN BUENOS AIRES
Visiting museums is a wonderful way to take a trip back in history, to find out about the customs, traditions, life and environment of the civilizations of the past. In the past 10 years Buenos Aires has declared many sites as historical attractions and has turned many local spots into exhibits for museums and has opened up a new branch of tourism by promoting local grave sites and private homes for visiting. There are many museums dedicated to the history of Buenos Aires and Argentina, palaeontology, archaeology and art. There is even the Museo Forense de la Morgue Judicial which has cadavers on display! Here, you can also visit many galleries and exhibition halls containing unique and interesting work by local artists.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Address: Avenida del Libertador 1473
Telephone: +54 (11) 4803 0802
Website: http://www.mnba.org.ar
The MNBA is a comprehensive general art museum including a collection of work by local Argentinean artists. It has a melange of art representing the tastes of its owners and benefactors such as Jackson Pollock, Rembrandt, and El Greco to name but a few. The strength of the museum lies in its collection of late 19th and early 20th century art with pieces from Monet, Pissaro, Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso. Do not forget to check out as the extensive collection of art by some local Argentinean maters as well. This museum is a must-see for fans of Early Modern European painters, French Impressionists, and Post-Impressionists. Housed in a former pumping station, the museum does not have the grandeur of other museums. Do not be fooled however, as it contains some of the nation’s most artistic treasures. Entry is free, with MP3 tours in English and Spanish.
Museo Evita
Address: Lafinur 2988, 1425
Telephone: +54 (11) 4807 0306
Website: http://www.museoevita.org
Description: A museum with many fascinating items that pay homage to the late Eva “Evita” Duarte Peron. It opened in 2002 on the 50th anniversary of her death in order to pay tribute to her life and to teach others about her impact on the country of Argentina. Each room houses an assortment of film clips, pictures and artefacts which trace her life beginning from her childhood up through her youth as an actress and her further role as a social activist and the First Lady of Argentina. Exhibits show her relentless fight for female civil right causes and orphanages. For those who do not speak Spanish, cards are available with translations of the film clips in English. The final room showcases the events that lead to her demise and includes a replica of her death mask. Those who are curious can also visit where she is buried in the Recoleta cemetery which is not far from the museum. Each day, one can find a procession of people who visit the Duerte family vault where Evita rests.
Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernandez Blanco
Address: Suipacha 1422
Telephone: +54 (11) 4327 0228
Website: http://www.museos.buenosaires.gov.ar/mifb.htm
This museum is housed in a small Peruvian style building, with an Andalucía style garden. There are art exhibits chronicling the history of Catholicism in South America with an entire section devoted to images of the Virgin Mary. Also located inside the museum is an intriguing collection of Spanish paintings, wood carvings, colonial silver, baroque artefacts and a collection of dolls. Guided tours in English are available if arranged in advance.
Museo Participativo de Ciencias
Address: Junin 1930
Telephone: +54 (11) 4805 3456
Website: http://www.mpc.org.ar
Description: A science museum with activities for the children to enjoy! There are two floors full of science displays where children can find out how gravity and electricity works all designed with fun in mind. There are communication rooms, mechanical rooms, music and sound rooms, all with interactive objects aimed towards kids of all ages.
Museo Historico Nacional
Address: Calle Defensa 1600
Telephone: +54 (11) 4307 4457
Description: This is one of the oldest and most important museums in Buenos Aires and is situated in an antique family home of the Italian Lezama family. It has 33 rooms and three galleries which chronologically display iconography, military uniforms, weapons, trophies and many more artefacts depicting the story of Argentine history. These artefacts include personal belongings from famous explorers and conquistadors such as Juan de Garay. Items saved from Jesuit missions and relics saved from the War of Independence against Spain can also be found in this historic museum. The museum’s focal point is the collection of art by Cándido López: a series of fascinating scenes depicting the war against Paraguay in the 1870’s.
Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA)
Address: Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415
Telephone: +54 (11) 4806 6500
Website: http://www.malba.org.ar
Description: This is architecturally one of the most modern museums in Buenos Aires and is a cultural centre devoted to the promotion of contemporary Latin American artists. With splendid artwork from artists such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Emilio di Cavalcanti, this is one place that you do not want to miss. Paintings from Argentinean artists such as Antonio Berni, Xul Solar and Alfredo Guttero, will leave you inspired as you pass through.
Casa Museo Carlos Gardel
Address: Jean Jaures 735
Telephone: +54 (11) 4964 2015
Website: http://www.museos.buenosaires.gov.ar/gardel.htm
Description: This is the old house of the beloved tango crooner Carlos Gardel which honours and exhibits his life. Fans can come and see photos, original music scores, articles about his life and personal artefacts, including his famous fedora. The casa chorizo (a sausage house or a house that is long and narrow) has been restored with the aim of resembling its original appearance during the time that Gardel lived there with his mother in the 1920’s. The house was reopened as a museum on June 24th 2003 on the 68th anniversary of his tragic death with took place in a fiery plane crash.
Museo de Ciencias Naturales “Bernadino Rivadavia”
Address: Avenida Angel Gallardo 470
Telephone: +54 (11) 4982 5243
Website: http://www.macn.secyt.gov.ar/cont_Gral/home.php
Description: A collection of the natural resources of Argentina with a lovely aquarium and 13 exhibition rooms dedicated to palaeontology, the Antarctic, arthropods, amphibians, and reptiles. The first floor houses a huge reconstruction of the Patagonian specimens Gigantosaurus carolini, the world’s largest carnivorous dinosaur, and the herbaceous Argentinosaurus huiculensis, with a neck alone that is 12 metres long! The second floor mainly exhibits South American mammals, comparative anatomy, amphibians, reptiles, birds and botany. In alliance with the Research Institute, the museum also introduces the non-technical public to laboratory work.
Museo de Motivos Argentinos “José Hernandez”
Address: Avenida del Libertador 2373
Telephone: +54 (11) 4802 7294
Website: http://www.museohernandez.org.ar
Description: A museum with gaucho artefacts, the history of mate, and information regarding important Argentinean figures throughout history.
This museum is devoted mainly to Argentinean arts and crafts, and crafts of the criollo culture and indigenous Argentinean communities. It houses artefacts made from wood, leather, silver, glass, porcelain, stone and other materials. The main exhibition homes a selection of artefacts traditionally used by Gauchos, including weapons, musical instruments and engravings. The museum also chronicles the history of mate, and includes a collection of photography that describes the changes in Argentinean traditions over the ages.
Museo Xul Solar
Address: Laprida 1212
Telephone: +54 (11) 4824 3302
Website: http://www.xulsolar.org.ar
Description: This is a museum dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of the work of Argentinean painter Alejandro Xul Solar. The museum was constructed in the house where he used to live with objects, sculptures and paintings that belonged to his personal collection. A guided tour takes you through all stages of his artwork and explains other work that Xul Solar did. For example, he created a piano that matched colours with each note and with each key on the piano having its own texture allowing blind people the chance to learn how to play the piano. He also invented 10 new alphabets, and incorporated these into his artwork while making up words, stories and phrases using only the alphabets that he invented. This is a great museum to visit and will give you the opportunity to get a glimpse into the mind of the incredibly talented and intelligent artist Xul Solar.
Museo Forense de la Morgue Judicial
Address: Junín 760
Telephone: +54 (11) 4374 3939
This museum offers educational activities for those who are studying forensics, law, and medicine. Students in the Federal Police, Gendarmerie or Naval Command schools along with biology students with displays of real cadavers will appreciate this museum for what it has to offer. The museum bears the name of Dr. Juan B. Bafico who collected the majority of the material in the museum during his time as director from 1927 to 1950.
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