In a city that was formed by a multitude of cultures, La Boca has been, for more than 150 years, one of the neighbourhoods with the biggest immigrant population. Italians settled in La Boca, specially Genovese or Xeneixe, as it is said in their own dialect and how La Boca inhabitants are still known.

In Spanish, “La boca” means “the mouth” and is a reference to the Riachuelo’s estuary, the oldest port at Buenos Aires. In the surroundings there were first buildings for the slaves that arrived by boat, and in the following years were built shipyards and the big establishments where beef was salted down for export.
Since beginnings of the XX century, La Boca turned into a workers neighbourhood with pizzerias, cafés and Italian style cantinas, but also theatres, museums and offices for political parties.

In La Boca are some of the most visited attractions of Buenos Aires, like Caminito or Boca Juniors Stadium, but also, though they may not appear in the guides, a thousand of details for the walker to discover among the multicolor houses and ancient bars.

On August 23, La Boca day is celebrated, as well as other old neighbourhood day: San Nicolás, the north section of what the porteños call –somewhat vaguely– “el Centro”.
Do you know these neighbourhoods? Do you have any stories to share, or places to recommend, or questions to ask?

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Neighbourhoods search: La Boca (in Spanish) — Listen to La Boca voices — Pictures of La Boca — Neighbourhoods search: San Nicolás (in Spanish)

Esta entrada fue escrita el Jueves, Agosto 23, 2007 a las 12:05 y esta en la categoría General, Neighbourhoods. Puede seguir los comentarios de esta entrada mediante RSS 2.0. Puede escribir un comentario, o trackback desde su sitio.