Sometimes, the city of Buenos Aires is referred as the “Paris of South America” as the city has a strong influence of European culture. When it comes to art, the city has plenty of museums showcasing the history, fine arts, modern arts, decorative arts, popular arts, sacred art, arts and crafts, theatre and popular music, as well as the preserved homes of noted art collectors, writers, composers and artists. Numerous sculptures by famous sculptors like Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle can be watched in the city. The subjects vary from the subtle brushstrokes to the act of provocation representing the art circuit of portenos.
The permanent collection owned by Eduardo Constantini i.e. the Costantini Fundation is open to public since 1990. This private, non-profit Constantini foundation decided to establish MALBA to collect, conserve, study and disseminate Latin American art, dating from the early 20th Century to the present day. Today, MALBA offers art works produced in Latin America during the 20th Century. The collection of over two hundred and seventy works is contributed by Argentinean and Latin American artists. Works displayed in the museum expose the similarities as well as the differences between the artists. The venue also hosts some workshops, children activities and temporary exhibitions.
Address: Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 3415, Buenos Aires, C1425CLA, Argentina.
Tel.: +54 11 4808 6500, +54 11 4808 6511, +54 11 4808 6513
Located in Palermo’s busy and popular park district, this wonderful museum was built in 1966. This outstanding planet-shaped building of the museum featuring a 65-feet-wide cupola is one of the finest places in the city. Inside it, using a powerful laser system, outer space is recreated in its entire splendor with great details. There are samples of meteorites and several models depicting the history of space exploration.
Address: Av. Sarmiento y Figueroa Alcorta (Palermo), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Tel.: +54 11 4771 9393, +54 11 4771 6629
Located inside of the Centro Cultural de Recoleta and adjacent to the Recoleta Cemetery, Museo Participativo de Ciencias features two floors full of science displays. Here children can actually touch, play and see how electricity, gravity, and many other things work. There are various rooms like communication room; wave and sound room, mechanical room, with various interactive stands. Don’t miss an opportunity to experience the wonders invented by science.
Address: Junin 1930, Recoleta, Inside of the Centro Cultural de Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Tel.: +54 11 4807 3260, +54 11 4807 3456
Website: MPC
Once a summer home of the famous Italian Lezama family, this historic Museum has nice garden and a huge porch adorned with old canoes. The old well of it is still used for water. This is one of the most important and oldest museums in the country and has 33 rooms and three galleries. The museum offers dozens of items, arranged chronologically, which describe the history of Argentina
Address: Calle Defensa 1600, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 1143, Argentina.
Tel.: +54 11 4307 4457, +54 11 4307 3157
The National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA) is devoted to Argentine art. Located in Libertador Avenue, it contains one of the most important art collections in Latin America. The painter and art critic Eduardo Schiaffino was the first director of the MNBA. The museum shifted to its present location in 1933. The museum displays the world's largest collection of Argentine sculptures and paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries and contains a library specializing in art. Watch the notable pieces by some of the most important 20th century Argentine artists that include Renoir, Monet, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and van Gogh, as well as a surprisingly extensive collection of Picasso drawings.
Address: Av. Del Libertador 1473, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Tel.: +54 11 5288 9900
Fax: +54 11 5288 9900
Website: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Aimed at children from 3 to 12 years old, Museo de los Ninos Abasto is the first thematic and interactive museum in Buenos Aires. The main purpose of the museum is edutainment i.e. learn while you play and have fun. The activities and the environment of the museum, both are designed to bring out child's creativity with new learning techniques. Simultaneously, the kids will have a lot fun in the process. A large variety of competitions, drawing, painting and ceramics exhibitions by children can be watched at the venue.
Address: Avenida Corrientes 3247, nivel 2, patio de comidas, Buenos Aires 1193 Argentina
Tel.: +54 11 4861 2325
One can find about 129 museums in the city, both private and public. Some museums are administered by the Culture Secretariat of the City Government that preserves an important heritage of the city. Some famous museums in the city of Buenos Aires are listed below.