Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

P ALERMO AND BEL GR ANO  113

French-style ornate façade of Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo
to contem porary silverware. crowd from across the coun try. q Campo Argentino
The bulk of the pieces are of Thought to be one of the best de Polo de Palermo
either Oriental or European racecourses in the world, the
origin and date from the 16th Hipódromo has three tracks, of Ave del Libertador 4300, Palermo.
to the 20th century. Many were which two are used for train ing City Map 5 D2. Tel (011) 4777-8005.
donated by Buenos Aires’s while the main track is used for  Ministro Carranza. @ 130, 160,
richest and most celebrated competitions. On average, there 166. & 7 - ∑ aapolo.com
families, including the are ten meet ings per month,
Errázuriz-Alvears. Among usually on Mondays, Opened in 1928, Campo
the well-known names Saturdays, and Sundays. Argentino de Polo de
whose works are on display Races start every half-hour. Palermo is the country’s
are those of Edouard Manet The Hipódromo also hosts major stadium and one of
and Auguste Rodin, what is easily the biggest the best places to see inter-
represented by a portrait date on the Argentinian national polo stars, including
and several small turf calen dar, the Gran Adolfo Cambiaso, one of
sculptures respec tively. Premio Nacional in Argentina’s top polo players.
Temporary exhibitions November, which draws Also known as Catedral del
usually focus on contem- massive crowds. The Polo, the stadium has a
porary artisan-type work other prominent race, held capacity of 45,000 spectators
from Argentina’s interior annually, is the Gran de las and is used for many other
provi nces. Although Americas. For the best purposes, including concerts.
the museum has a betting, punters Polo is played in Buenos
varied collection, Garden sculpture at Museo de should visit the Aires from September through
many prefer just to Arte Decorativo basement of the to December (see p42).
walk around the Neo -Classical The Abierto Argentino de
beautiful mansion. Tribuna Oficial, where over Palermo (Argentinian Open)
4,000 slot machines are kept. is con tested at the end of
The belle époque architecture of the sea son. Every one enjoys
0 Hipódromo the grandstand and mani cured the tradition of stomping
Argentino de gardens adds an ele gant touch down the divots on the pitch
Palermo to this popular sports ground. at half-time.
Ave del Libertador 4104, Palermo.
City Map 5 D2. Tel (011) 4778-2800.
 Ministro Carranza. @ 130, 160,
166. Open varies. 7 0 - =
∑ palermo.com.ar
When Buenos Aires’s
Hipódromo Argentino de
Palermo opened its doors in
1876, it had a capacity of only
2,000 people. Today, that has
grown to about 100,000.
Although its early years were
considered its golden days,
major races still pull in a large A polo match in progress at the Campo Argentino de Polo de Palermo

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