Page 118 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

116  BUENOS AIRES AREA B Y AREA

and social center. La Rural is a
two-week-long agricultural fair
that takes place annually in
August. It attracts thousands of
spec tators who come to see a
large number of animals, most of
which are cattle. Breeders travel
from all over Argentina
to showcase their livestock.
The showground itself was
built by the Sociedad Rural
Argentina in the 1870s, and
it now also has a modern
exhibition hall, which is used
for other events and shows.
r Espacio Memoria
y Derechos
Humanos
Ave del Libertador 8209. Tel (011)
4702-9920. £ Estación Rivadavia.
@ 29, 60, 130, 160.
∑ espaciomemoria.ar

For most Argentinians, this
former site of the Argentine
Navy holds a grim resonance.
Previously called the “Escuela de
Mecánica de la Armada” (Naval
The towering minarets of the Centro Cultural Islámico Rey Fahd Mechanics School), the facility
was used as an illegal deten tion
w Centro Cultural e La Rural center during the dictato rial
Islámico Rey Fahd Ave Santa Fe 4201. City Map 5 E3. rule of the National
Tel (011) 4777-5500. @ 15, 36, 37, 60. Reorganization Process, which
Ave Intendente Bullrich 55. City Open only for events. lasted from 1976 to 1983 (see
Map 5 D2. Tel (011) 4899-1144. p60). It was here that some of the
@ 15, 36, 37, 60. Open 9am–6pm ∑ larural.com.ar worst atrocities were com mitted
Mon–Fri. 8 noon Tue, Thu, & Sat. 7
∑ ccislamicoreyfahd.org.ar Named after the most during the country’s military rule.
important agricultural event in Political prisoners, many of whom
Inaugurated in 2000, this the Argentinian calendar since were simply teachers or lawyers
cultural center and imposing, the late 19th cen tury, this show- with left-wing leanings, were
modern Gulf-style mosque ground and exhibi tion space is brought here, commonly in
were designed by Saudi archi- used as an exporting platform unmarked Ford Falcons, tortured
tect Zuhair Faiz on land dona- and is a cultural, entrepreneurial, and, usually, killed. It is estimated
ted by the former Argentinian
president Carlos Menem. The
10-acre (4-ha) site contains the
King Fahd Mosque with a 160-
ft- (50-m-) high blue-and-white
dome and two minarets.
The mosque is the largest
in South America, with a
colos sal prayer room that
accom modates more than
1,000 worshipers. It houses
schools that conduct Islam
and Arabic classes, and has a
library and conference and
sports faci lities. The center’s
pleasant gardens and water
fountains provide a cool retreat
from the busy city. A busy day at the La Rural agricultural fair
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p279 and pp290–91

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm