Every year more than a Million tourists visit San Telmo.

This historic district of the city of Buenos Aires is less than ten blocks situated from the "Plaza de Mayo" (May-Square). It is limited by the microcenter ("Microcentro"), by districts like "Monserrat", "La Boca" and "Barracas" and by the "Puerto Madero" (Port). Its ubication is less than a kilometre from the ecological reservate.

San Telmo is one of the oldest parts of the city. Supposedly it was here where in 1536 Don Pedro de Mendoza founded the city of Buenos Aires. San Telmo is located in the historical part of the city, the architecture of its buildings reflects the different styles and periods of time, even some 19th century constructions have survived.

In the passageway of Saint Lawrence ("Pasaje San Lorenzo") one comes across San Telmo`s famous courtyards, one of them sheltering the so-called "Casa Minima" (tiny house), one of the narrowest houses of the capital, once giving home to one of the first liberated slaves. Those drawn to mysterious depths and lovers of creepiness should take part in a guided tour leading through historical tunnels. It starts at the corner of Defensa-Street and Saint-Lawrence-Passageway ("Pasaje San Lorenzo").

The Giuffra-Passageway ("pasaje Giuffra") and Balcarce-Street are other examples representing the older styles of architecture of Buenos Aires. San Telmo is a part of the city where you can find antique buildings, cobblestone streets, picturesque streetlamps and above all a market that is more than a hundred years old. It's an area with intense social and cultural activity that combines art and design with antique objects, nightlife and bohemia.

Its commercial centre is situated around the "Plaza Dorrega" (Dorrega-Square), where ever since 1970 a big flea-market takes place. Thousands of interested visitors come there every Sunday to enjoy and buy old objects that once where part of Argentinean households. Also you find street artists, Tango-dancers and living statues performing around the little square, they give the area its special, almost magical feeling.

Also every Sunday Defensa-Street is transformed into a pedestrian area and a big market for all kinds of handicraft is held. In total there are 6 markets apart from the one on Plaza Dorrega: At the corner of Defensa-Street and San-Lorenzo-Passageway, at the corner of Defensa-Street and Independencia-Street, at the corner of Defensa-Street and Giuffra-Passageway, at the corner of Defensa-Street und Cochabamba-Street. I addition one can find a little flea-market in Lezama-Park and a little art-market at the corner of the streets Humberto 1. and Bolivar.

Huge old houses converted into galleries such as the one you can find in the so-called "El viejo hotel de los Immigrantes" (Old Immigrants' Hotel) Balcarce-Street Nr. 1053, which shelters various antique shops like the ones in Defensa-Street Nr.1079, design shops, bars, restaurants and cafés, form the scenery of the district.

In the surroundings of Lezama-Park one can listen to the sound of drums played and also teached every Sunday by immigrants with African origin. San Telmo is one of the very few places in the capital where African people are present.

Obviously the district bursts with diversity and colors. Tango is danced, candombe (typical style of music,"Rio de la Plata"- area, strongly influenced by African immigrants) is played and in various pubs one can enjoy life performances by Jazz-, Blues, Rock- and Folk-Bands as well as other types of music. Classical Music and Opera is found in San Telmo´s own Scala. Of great importancy are the numerous so-called "Tanguerías" (traditional bars where Tango is played and /or danced), their majority located in Balcarce-Street.

There are all kinds of bars, from historical and traditional ones such as the "Bar Británico", to modern pubs in the surroundings of Dorrega-Square. Tango is performed for all types of audience like for example open air Tango performances by street artists again on Plaza Dorrega every Sunday but there are also exclusive shows in various locations at night.

San Telmo and its surrounding area is a zone that shelters lots of theatres and museums. There is something for everyone: the City Museum ("Museo de la Ciudad"), Print Museum("Museo del Grabado"), Museum of National History ("Museo Histórico Nacional"), Film Museum ("Museo del Cine"), Museum of Modern Art ("Museo de Arte Moderno"), Museum of traditional Gowns ("Museo del Traje"), Immigrants Museum ("Museo de los Inmigrantes") and the Puppet Museum ("Museo del Títere"). Contemporary theatres are as follows "La Máscara", "CELCIT", "LyF", "Margarita Xirgu", "El Búho" and "La Manzana de las Luces".

The area offers a number of film schools as well as art galleries, hundreds of artists live and work in the district.

In February an open air film festival is organized. Throughout the whole year street artists perform and the so-called "Murgas" (traditional Carneval performance group, singing and dancing) practise on Sundays on the street. The cultural events taking place, no matter wheater they are big or small, always are new and interesting experiences to the visitor. Living together with their local neighbours are immigrants from all over the world. Thousends of young Europeans live in San Telmo, an area they elected for its old houses, its people, its history and its magic. In the last few years many new hostels, hotels and restaurants have opened up as well as new markets and design shops, satisfying the growing interest on this popular area.
San Telmo has it all.History, present and future. It is full of lively culture and personality.

Certainly it is one of the most diverse and interesting districts of the city of Buenos Aires.