LandingPad Buenos Aires

Population: 77,474 (2001 census)
Size (Sq Km): 7.6
Class: Working to middle class

Measured on a scale of 1-10 (1 = low, 10 = high)

*Night Safety Tip: Keep your distance from both Boca and Constitución at night

Transportation: There is no subte in Barracas, Constitución subte and train station can be reached by foot in about 20 minutes (only do this by day); or by bus lines including 10, 12, 17 and 51. Lines 10 (to and from Downtown, Palermo and Recoleta), 12 (to and from Palermo), and 17 (to and from Downtown and Recoleta).

La Onda (The Vibe): A family-oriented and humble neighborhood. If you’d like to settle into to a calm part of town, this is a great place to live. Parrillas frequently find their stations along the streets and small cafes are filled with the working-class men having their beers. At night, it’s all quiet on the Barracas front. However, a grittier elements border the neighborhood as it is surrounded by less than safe areas (La Boca and Constitucion)

Attractions & Highlights:
1. Main shopping street, Montes de Oca, named after one of Argentina’s wealthiest families
2. Museum of Natural Sciences (Velez Sarfield 563)
3. Church of Santa Felicitas – A church that is the base of city myth about young love lost (guides and tours available at the church during the last weekend of each month)
4. Parque Lezama, which hosts a weekend street fair

Random Fact(s):
1. December 13 is the Day of Barracas neighborhood
2. The intersection of streets Montes de Oca and Osvaldo Cruz is famous for inspiring the famous tango song “Tres Esquinas” (Three Corners) by Angel D Agostino and Angel Vargas.
3. Barracas is one of the settings in writer Ernesto Sábatos’s novel, Sobre heroes y tumbas (About heroes and tombs).
4. Barracas was the home of two very important cookie factories and one of the biggest manufacturers of alpargatas, the traditional shoe worn by everyone from gauchos to musicians.

History: Barracas is located in the south of downtown Buenos Aires, along the Riachuelo River. Founded in the 18th century, the name Barracas originates from the word “barraca,” which means temporary construction of buildings and homes built from simple materials. Throughout most of the 19th century, wealthy families populated Barracas until the yellow fever epidemic swept over the area. To escape the damp river conditions that incubated the illness, wealthy families moved to the northern neighborhoods of the city, leaving southern areas such as Barracas and San Telmo populated by the working middle-class.

In the 20th century, Italians and other immigrants populated Barracas and worked in the neighborhood’s many factories. These days, most of the factories have closed and made way for new construction and green spaces.

Map of Barracas:

Interactive Map of Barracas