Politics On Foot

This four-hour walking tour unravels the political history of Buenos Aires. Taking place in Recoleta and Retiro, Silvina's route passes the city's most elegant boulevards, encountering majestic palaces once frequented by the high society of Buenos Aires. Silvina spotlights the architects behind each building and share the secrets of the people who resided within, as well as those honored in statues and other monuments. You'll tilt your neck at what was once the tallest skyscraper in Latin America and learn how revolution and wars shaped the city we see today. With a sharp eye for detail, Silvina draws your attention to hidden architectural elements and reveals the significance behind them. She details the rise of Peronism under Juan Domingo Perón and Eva "Evita" Perón, as well as the Anti-Peronism movement. The outing concludes at Recoleta Cemetery, circuiting notable graves including the resting place of Evita. A mid-experience coffee stop provides a moment of contemplation.

This captivating walking tour confronts a topic many avoid: politics, offering rare space to ask the real questions. Silvina's experience threads together various strands of history, showing how her city has been shaped by political movements, revolutions, liberation, wars, women's voices, and foreign influences. Her narration (supported by historic documents) balances architecture, histories, and personal accounts of those who contributed to Buenos Aires, all the while honing in on figures and deeds not usually covered by textbooks or typical tours. You'll hear about Carlos Pellegrini, Mayor Torcuato de Alvear, Carlos María de Alvear, and the Paz family. Silvina will also share the tale of the forbidden romance between the "nouveau riche" Irish heiress Corina Kavanagh and Aarón Anchorena, of one of the city's most aristocratic families. Standing at the grave of Evita, you'll hear how the iconic cemetery represented everything she fought against: elitism, classism, and injustice.

Always curious about history and stories, the arts, communication, languages, and cultures, Silvina's broad range of interests lend themselves to helping immerse visitors in Buenos Aires. Having studied English teaching, translation, literature, and social communication at university, she has worked as a freelance teacher and translator of English for over 20 years. Her students are just as varied as her interests, and include playwrights, artists, students, designers, and journalists. Silvina has been a translator for the Government of Buenos Aires and publishers, specializing in the arts, theater, and popular social science. In addition to history, she’s passionate about drama and literature (particularly contemporary female writers), and has traveled extensively throughout the Americas and Europe. As an artist, Silvina experiments with a variety of mediums with her artist community at a private unit called Mantis in the La Paternal neighborhood.

Comfortable footwear for walking: this is a walking tour. Sunscreen and sunhat (essential in summer).