Page 124 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

122  BUENOS AIRES AREA B Y AREA

SHOPPING IN BUENOS AIRES

Buenos Aires has more upscale malls and Francia and Feria de San Pedro Telmo. Even
smart fashion bou tiques than any other city non-fashionistas should take a stroll round
in Latin America. The many great bargains Palermo Viejo to see the amazing range of
on offer here make the capital a shopper’s homespun designs and fabrics on show.
delight. Leather bags and jackets, silverware, Buenos Aires is home to thousands of small
and antiques are the classic purchases for retailers, ranging from textile outlets in the
visitors, while handi crafts from across bustling neighborhoods to stylish delis and
Argentina are available at specialist stores wine stores selling boutique products and
and markets, such as the popular Feria Plaza offering a personalized shopping experience.
Crafts and Gifts
Although the best traditional
handicrafts are found in
Argentina’s interior provinces,
where they are locally made,
it is definitely worth exploring
the craft shops in Buenos Aires.
Most souvenir shops cluster
around the downtown area, on
and off the famous shopping
street, Calle Florida. El Boyero
stocks a wide range of finely
crafted silver products, mate
gourds, beautifully colored
textiles and a variety of leather
goods. Elementos Argentinos
has exquisite hand-loomed
textiles and rugs in sheep and
Llama wool. There are beautiful
ponchos for sale at Arte Étnico
Argentino, in Palermo Viejo. For An array of items at Feria de San Pedro Telmo, San Telmo barrio
quirky gifts, visit Calma Chicha.
As well as cowhide cushions, bilia is stocked at Zivals, an Galería Rubbers and Galería
rugs, and leather bags, the shop emporium on the corner of Foster Catena, which concen-
also specializes in tra ditional Callao and Corrientes. There is trate on emerging Argentinian
Argentinian crafts with a modern a well-established industry in painters and sculptors. Located
twist. Tango-themed souvenirs kitsch artwork and, increasingly, in Palermo is Elsi del Rio,
are very popular. Tango memora- tango fashion. For a range of another gallery with an eye
inter esting collectibles, includ ing for promising young artists.
won derful old posters, T-shirts, Calle Defensa in San Telmo
and ancient musical scores, visit has a string of antique stores,
the Club de Tango. stocking anything from early
For visitors wishing to 20th-century gramophones
purchase original jewelry, there to 18th-century statues and
are ornate con tem porary silver original wooden trunks used
creations at María Medici and by early European immi grants.
more ethnic necklaces and Mercado de Pulgas is a dusty
earrings at Plata Nativa. flea market in Palermo Viejo
that sells clocks, glass
soda bottles, ceramic vases,
Art and Antiques
paintings, old toy cars
There are more than 20 small and wooden beds. Gil
commercial galleries in the Antigüedades stocks lovely
downtown area of Buenos silver-plated mate gourds and
Aires. These include well- Victorian clothing, while HB
established showcases such Anticuario, located in an
as the Ruth Benzacar gallery old mansion, displays an array
Leather jackets, bags, and ponchos at a and Fundación Federico of interesting items that some
gaucho shop Klemm, and those such as shoppers may find gaudy.

122-123_EW_Argentina.indd 122 05/08/16 10:40 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm