The neighborhood of San Telmo is located at the south of Buenos Aires. This is the reason why it’s called “Barrio Sur” of Buenos Aires. There are living 25.969 people. In the north of San Telmo you can find Monserrat.
Besides, Puerto Madero limits San Telmo in the east, Boca at the southeast, Barracas in the southwest and Constitución at the southwest.
San Telmo is distinguished because of its colonial houses. In its first years, San Telmo was the neighborhood of the dock workers. A lot of time later the traditional patricians moved to San Telmo, but because of the yellow fever, in 1871, they went to the north of Buenos Aires.
After this they started to rent their houses to immigrants of Europe who came numerous at this time.
In 1957 there were the first plans to build new houses with a modern style. But it took much more time until the houses were updated. Recently, in 1970, José Maria Peña, who is the foundator of the “Museo de la Cuidad” (City Museum) had introduced the “San Telmo Fair” at the principal place called “Dorrego”.
At this time there were just 30 booths where they sold ancient objects. Today there are 270 booths where you can find a lot of interesting things. Thanks to the San Telmo Fair,
the quarter became a more touristic place. For that, they organize a lot of tango shows at the bars.
The San Telmo Fair takes place every Sunday from 10 to 16 o’clock. In this time, and on Saturday in the afternoon at Defensa Street, San Telmo becomes a pedestrian area where many street artists perform their presentations.
For participate with a booth at the San Telmo Fair it’s necessary to comply with some requirements; for example, the things which are going to be sold must be older than the 70’s, such as: jewellery, banknotes and coins, cameras, wallets, books and magazines, perfume bottles, watches, antique phones and much more…
Nearly 10.000 people come to visit the San Telmo Fair on Sunday; a lot of them are tourists from all over the world.
You can access to the San Telmo Fair by taking different busses: 22, 24, 28A, 28B, 29, 33, 54, 61, 62, 74, 86, 93, 126, 130, 143, 152, and 159. Another possibility is to take the subway until the station «Avenida Independencia» and then to walk nine blocks.
There are more interesting places to visit in San Telmo, such as the Dorrego Square, a very beautiful place for sitting outside under the trees in one of the numerous bars there. Especially in the spring, it is very nice to sit outside enjoying the atmosphere.
Furthermore there are many ancient churches like the one “San Pedro Telmo“, a catholic church built in 1748 by the Jesuit order. The old name of the church was “Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Belén”. Next to it is located the Retreat House. Because of this they called the quarter residence.
The Jesuits were banished from America some years later and for this reason they Betlehems used the residence as a prison. When the parish of San Pedro González Telmo was built in 1806 they used the “glesia of Belén” as a provisional temple. Because of that they called the quarter “Alto de San Pedro”. In the year 1942 the church was declared as a national historical monument.
Besides, there are some museums to visit in San Telmo. For example the “Museo de Arte Moderno” (Modern Art Museum)”, and the “Museo Histórico Nacional” (History National Museum).