Caminito Area Walking Tour (Self Guided), Buenos Aires

European style and Argentinian passion and flair combine in the lively La Boca neighborhood. This vibrant area is celebrated for the colorful houses on Caminito, a small road with a big history. When Italian immigrants poured into Argentina during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many from the port town of Genoa made this area their home. They brought with them a tradition of painting the exteriors of their dwellings in bright colors.

You can explore some of this history as you make your way along Caminito. By the late 1950s, many of the original tenements had been pulled down, but some were saved and have been used to recreate how La Boca used to look. Many of these properties have been turned into souvenir stores selling lots of tango related merchandise.

In fact, you will never be too far away from the dance and musical genre when you are in La Boca. Tango was born on the streets of Buenos Aires, although exactly where is a matter of some debate. La Boca is one of the barrios that has staked a claim as the origin. On Caminito, you will experience the thrilling excitement of tango as performers and musicians take to the sidewalk to put on energetic displays. Complementing this cultural spectacle are artists selling sculptures, paintings and other creations from stalls along the road.