Parque Tres de Febrero
Buenos Aires - Argentina
There is a lot you can see and do in Buenos Aires, but if you are looking at relaxing or just going for a leisurely stroll, then Parque Tres de Febrero (Park) is definitely for you.
It is a 400-hectare (989 acres) park in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires and consists of many individual parks and plazas.
The main attractions of Parque Tres de Febrero
El Rosedal (Rose Garden)
The Parque del Rosedal, more commonly known as El Rosedal, is one of the most visited areas of Parque Tres de Febrero. It's not just about the roses (over 19,000 bushes) but it is the beautifully landscaped grounds with bridges going over ponds that make it so attractive. Inside the Rosedal you will also find the Jardín de los Poetas (Garden of the Poets) with its 26 sculptures and busts of famous writers such as Borges and Shakespeare. Look out for the Patio Andaluz too which was donated by Sevilla in 1929.
The Palermo Lakes
One of Palermo's oldest attractions is a boat ride on Lago del Rosedal Lake which has over 60 rowboats and pedal boats. There are another 3 lakes in the park, Lago Victoria Ocampo, el Lago del Planetario and the Lago de Regatas.
Planetario Galileo Galilei - Planetarium
This sphere-shaped planetarium was built in 1966 and open to the public 2 years later. Notice how the building stands on three arched “legs”.
At the entrance of the Planetarium there is a metallic meteorite that was found in the Chaco province in 1965. On the first floor of the Museum you can see a moon rock brought from the Apollo XI mission.
The building has a circular room inside that is 20 meters in diameter and 360 reclining seats.
Monumento de los Españoles (The Spanish Monument)
In the middle of the intersection of Av. Sarmiento and Av. Libertador you will find a 35-metre high monument which took 17 years to finish (thanks to the deaths of two of its authors, shipwrecks and wars… I'm surprised there wasn't a plague thrown in there too). Officially it is know as La Carta Magna y las Cuatro Regiones Argentinas (The Magna Carta and the 4 Argentinean regions) but locals still call it the Spanish monument due to Spain donating it for Argentina's Centenary (The English donated the Torre de los Ingleses “English Tower” at the same time).
Museo de Artes Plásitcas Eduardo Sivori – Art Museum
Founded in 1938, this museum displays over 3000 works of art and has one of the most complete libraries and archives about Argentine art. It is in front of the Rosedal.
Nearby you have the Botanical Gardens, the Buenos Aires Zoo (now closed) and the Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens, the World's largest outside of Japan.
Why is it called Parque Tres de Febrero?
Tres de Febrero is Spanish for “Third of February” which is the date (in 1852) in which the army of Rosas was defeated at the Battle of Caseros.
Brief History
With the overthrow of Juan Manuel de Rosas in 1852 (he appears on Argentina's 20 Pesos bill/note), his properties to the North of Buenos Aires became public land and ten years later the city ordered that most of that land become a city park. However work on it didn't begin until 1874 and was finally inaugurated on November 11th 1875 (The day of Buenos Aire's Patron Saint Martin of Tours).
Where is Parque Tres de Febrero?
The main area of the park is Between Av. Libertador and Av. Figueroa Alcorte (around Av. Sarmiento) in the Palmero neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.
How to get to Parque Tres de Febrero?
Subte (Subway): Line D and get off at Plaza Italia. Walk down Av. Sarmiento (or catch one of the touristy horse and carriages) until you get to Av Libertador.
Colectivos (local buses): 12, 15, 29, 36, 37, 39, 41, 55, 57, 59, 60, 64, 67, 68, 93, 95, 102, 108, 111, 118, 124, 128, 130, 152, 160, 161, 166, 188.(Double check these as some may change)
Train: Estación 3 de Febrero
The park is very popular on Sundays which you may want to avoid if you just want some peace and quiet.
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