National Holiday: Day of National Sovereignty

If you are travelling to Buenos Aires this weekend, then you will find on Monday that everything feels a lot quieter than the guide book described. This is as it is the Day of National Sovereignty (Día de la Soberanía Nacional) which is a new national holiday in Argentina. 

Until last year, the day was only observed however, during Argentina’s bicentennial year in 2010, President Cristina Kirchner promised she would create more national holidays. As a result, the Day of National Sovereignty was created and celebrated for the first time in Obligado on the 20th November 2010. 

The Día de la Soberanía Nacional commemorates the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, when a small Argentine force stood up to an Angle-French navy. Although the result of the battle was Argentine defeat, Britain and France suffered great losses and the losses were so great that Britain and France both surrendered to the Argentine army led by Juan Manuel de Rosas.

Monument unveiled in 2010 at Obligado to commemorate the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado

The National Holiday was meant to take place on the 20th November 2011. However, this date was taken up by the date for a probable ballot after the elections on 23rd October. The Day of National Sovereignty will take place on Monday 28th November 2011 meaning you will have a long weekend. On the Día de la Soberanía Nacional, the city empties as all the Porteño’s go to the beach at Mar del Plata or visit the beaches in Uruguay and the city shuts down. This gives you the great opportunity to sightsee without having to push your way through the hectic crowds in the streets and without having to dodge out of the way of some of the crazy motorists in Buenos Aires.

 TO COMMEMORATE THE DAY OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, BOOK IN OUR SITE THE POLITICAL CITY TOUR FOR TWO PEOPLE AND ONLY ONE PAYS!

The weather forecast for the weekend of the Day of National Sovereignty is brilliant sunshine. Although the city is closed, here are the top 3 places to visit and things you can do around Buenos Aires during the National Holiday:

-Palermo: Visit Palermo’s beautiful parks and take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens which is home to more than 5,000 plant species. Alternatively, go to the beautiful Bosques de Palermo which is decorated with rose gardens, groves and lakes. It is the perfect place to relax and top up your tan with friends whilst enjoying some mate; go for a walk to the Rio de la Plata waterfront promenade or go rollerblading around the lakes.

-Puerto Madero: You should find bench located outside of one the beautiful 21st Century buildings near to the famous Women’s Bridge (3rd dock), and take a book or just watch the world go by. This will allow you to bask in the sunshine and have a relaxing time away from the crowds, whilst looking at one of the most beautiful and modern structures in Buenos Aires. Alternatively, visit the lively Costanera Sur waterfront promenade. On the waterfront promenade just outside the Ecological Reserve, you should go to one of the hotdog stands which sell choripan and bondiola. These are hotdogs sandwiches made from pork loin and are the Argentine junk food. . If you are looking to be a bit more active, head into the Ecological Reserve, where you will find there are many walking trails leading to the Rio de la Plata.

Puerto Madero

-Museums: Take this opportunity to explore the many museums of Buenos Aires which are free to visit on Sundays and holidays. Argentina is widely regarded the unofficial capital of culture in Latin America. Having just celebrated the Night of the Museums with 174 institutions taking part, the culture in Buenos Aires is thriving. Here are our top 5  museums to visit around the city:

1. City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad) is full of documents, photographs and artefacts that illustrate the history of Buenos Aires.  
2.  National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) has a collection dating back to the Middle Ages up until the 20th Century. There are 32 rooms and 11,000 masterpieces including, paintings, sculptures, drawings and recordings. 
3. Museum of Traditional Art Jose Hernandez (Museo de Arte Popular Jose Hernandez) houses 8,000 works of art that explore the customs of the indigenous communities in South America. 
4. Evita Museum (Museo Evita) tells the story of the life and work of one of the most important women in the history of Argentina. 
5. National History Museum (Museo Historico Nacional) which shines a historical light on the political and social development of Argentina.

On Tuesday 29th November, all of the craziness will be return to Buenos Aires so enjoy the rare chance to be in peace and serenity whilst visiting Buenos Aires.

If you are looking for tours and activities in Buenos Aires during the month of November, visit our official website or follow us on Twitter @BsAs4U