The Caminito is a city block and an open-air museum which you can’t miss visiting. The name translates as “little road”. The entire block is littered with colorful houses that were once inhabited by immigrants who came to Argentina at the end of the 19th century. This block ran along a spring that used to drain into the Riachuelo. However, as the river dried out, the spring’s bed became a part of Buenos Aires’ railways.
When the railway section was closed, this block was abandoned. The area was largely forgotten until the 1950s, when it was decided that the area was to be renovated, with Argentine artist Benito MartÍn creating his artwork to decorate the entire block. Many other artists from Buenos Aires followed MartÍn’s example and helped the renovation efforts. Today, Caminito is one of the most-visited areas of the city, and several restaurants offer tango performances, among other Argentine national dances.
The buildings in Caminito are made out of wood and tin, which is typical for the communal dwellings that the immigrants built. The street is truly an attraction worth visiting on any trip to Buenos Aires.
