Go: 68 miles (112km) west of Buenos Aires off Route 8.
How: Hire a Remis (car and driver) – about US$50.00 one way.
Bus: Chevallier has daily service to/from Buenos Aires.
Stay:
Parador Draghi ~ Matheu 380, Tel:2326-455583 paradores@sanantoniodeareco.com
Patio de Moreno ~ Moreno 251 S.A. de Areco, tel 2326-455197. www.patiomoreno.com
Antigua Casona ~ Segunda Sombra 495 tel 2325 15 684000 www.antiguacasona.com
Estancia El Omb ú ~ Ruta 31 Cuartel 6. Tel: 02326-492980. Open Nov-March, horseback riding, sulky rides, folk music pool. Three meals, wine and afternoon tea included. Need a car to get to Areco www.estanciaombu.com
EAT
Cafe de las Artes Bolivar 70, La Esquina de Merti ~ Plaza Arrelano 147. (left) Tel: 2325/456-705
Almacen de Ramos Generales ~ Zapiola 143, tel 0452961
SHOP ~ silver buckles, knives, jewelry, mates. Ponchos, hats, leather boots and belts, braided rawhide rope, reins, horse tack—everything for horse and gaucho.
Gustavo Stagnaro ~ Arellano & Matheu,
Miguel Rigacci ~ Belgrano 381
Draghi Museum and shop ~Arellano 45 Camilo Fiore~hand-crafted leather boots, belts Av, Vieytes 632
NIGHT LIFE Puesto la Lechusa ~ Costanera Aquiles Pazzaglia Tel 02326-454542. This pulpería, built in 1890, is where the gauchos went in search of food, music and camaraderie. A guitar was always available, and the man who played it drank as a guest of the house. Go there for the atmosphere, especially a “guitarreada†(guitar playing, singing by various guests). Don’t miss the photos of local gauchos.
NICE TO KNOW: Ricardo Gí¼iraldes’ (1886-1927) literary classic, Don Segundo Sombra (1926), in which Gí¼iraldes elevates the gaucho from outlaw to a man of honor, was inspired by don Segundo Ramirez, a wrangler on Gí¼iraldes’ father’s ranch near San Antonio de Areco. Both the author and Don Segundo are buried in the town cemetery.
Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gí¼iraldes ~ In the Parque Criollo. Open-11-5, closed Tues tel-02326 45-5839 (www.museoguiraldes.com.ar contains items related to gaucho life, folklore and the literary past of Don Segundo and Guiraldes. Paintings by Alberto Guí¯raldes (Ricardo’s cousin) depict scenes of rural life.
Museum Las Lilas ~ 279 Moreno Thurs-Sunday 10-8Pm Molina Campos-art gallery
Tourist Office (Direccií³n de Turismo) Zerboni & Arellano. Tel/fax : 02326-453165