The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, or MALBA, originally sponsored by art collector Eduardo Constantini, showcases a beautiful collection of Latin American art dating from the early 20th century to present day, an important film program, diverse literary activities, and educational and cultural activities.Located in the lovely Palermo neighborhood, the MALBA is a vibrant and participative cultural arena that is enjoyable for the entire community.
Admiring the exterior architecture of the museum is worth the trip in its self.But it is HIGHLY unadvisable to stop at that.Upon entering, light floods into the large and open space through a wall of windows, highlighting the impressive contemporary structure of the building.The journey through post-modern Latin American art begins, unraveling differences and similarities between artists, styles, and techniques.The first floor contains the permanent collection, which presents a considerable panorama of Latin American 20th century art.Ascending to the second floor reveals the more cutting-edge collections that come from across the globe.
Although $10 pesos is a small price to pay for such a grand experience, take advantage of the free entrance on Wednesdays.Caution: you won’t be the only one with that idea and it does get crowded.The museum is open daily (except Tuesdays) from noon to 8 pm, and 9 pm on Wednesdays.
Tags: Argentina, Art Museum, Buenos Aires City Attractions, learn spanish in buenos aires, Malba, spanish language school in argentina, spanish south america
Buenos Aires is one of South America’s most vibrant and diverse cities.A big shock for first-time visitors is its sheer size.Buenos Aires is made up of 48 neighborhoods spanning 78.5 square miles, and is home to over 3 million porteños, a name given to those who live in the port city.
The Italian, Spanish and French influences are very apparent in the architecture and customs.For example, when meeting a friend or someone for the first time, it is standard to give a kiss on one cheek.The “late” European lifestyle has also been adopted by Argentina.It is unheard of to go out to dinner before 8 or 9 pm, and closer to 10 or 11 pm on weekends.Nightlife gets going after dinner and can last until breakfast the following day.There are many international influences in the nightlife as well.Irish and English pubs, Salsa and Tango dancehalls, large discotheques bumping house and electronic music, more intimate venues featuring national rock or cumbia, and a broad array of theater options are a fraction of the eclectic offerings of Buenos Aires.
“The Paris of South America” is commonly used to refer to Buenos Aires.The culturally rich streets take visitors on a tour through some of Europe’s most electric cities.This strong European influence that is visible in the architecture and culture is very prominent in the advanced and upbeat feeling of the city and its inhabitants.It is easy to look around and truly forget where you are.
The Buenos Aires upper-middle class neighborhood of Belgrano (the purple zone of the Buenos Aires city map to the left) was named after Manuel Belgrano, the politician and military leader who created the national flag of Argentina. Leafy streets densely lined with luxury apartment buildings comprise the eastern portion of this “barrio” that surrounds the Universidad de Belgrano, one of our Expanish partner universities for study abroad programs. Conversely, calm streets shaded by large, mature trees characterize the western half of Belgrano. These detached family homes, closely resembling Anglo-Saxon architectural styles, with sizeable backyards and swimming pools are popular amongst wealthier Argentines and expatriates.This diverse northern neighborhood of the city is also home to Buenos Aires’ Barrio Chino, or Chinatown, which is lined with restaurants offering a variety of Asian cuisines and specialty grocery stores.
