Culture Trip Spring Sale: Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots. Book now.
  1. Home
  2. South America
  3. Argentina
  4. The 5 Most Beautiful Libraries...

The 5 Most Beautiful Libraries In Buenos Aires, Argentina

El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the best known bookshops in Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the best known bookshops in Buenos Aires, Argentina | © guillermo_bsas/Shutterstock
Jerry Nelson

Buenos Aires has an assortment of libraries ideal for escaping the heat with a good book. Some are great to relax in, while others are better from which to borrow. Here is Culture Trip’s guide to the five most beautiful libraries in Buenos Aires.

1. Biblioteca Nacional Del Maestros

Library

Biblioteca Nacional Del Maestros
© WikiCommons
Debuting in 1870, this treasure of a library was turned over to the people in 1884 and features a luxurious façade that is matched by its glitzy interior, which is neat, roomy, and bright. Beiges, greens, and pinks surround mahogany under the high ceilings, with majestic bookshelves impressing a need for education by virtue of their height. With its addition of the Sala Americana – opened in 1998 – the Biblioteca Nacional gained a gorgeous reading room that is accessible by a winding staircase in the main hall. Less crowded than the rest of the library, Sala Americana’s draped windows and antique lighting impart a feeling of grandeur.

Biblioteca Nacional Militar in Plaza San Martin

In front of the Plaza San Martin and tucked inside the Circulo Militar, this library calls to mind Buenos Aires’ omnipresent military. Designed to shout aristocracy, the building feels too elaborate to be functional and should not be missed — even if you’re not a martial fan. Leather-bound desks, mirrored walls and a marble hearth combine to create a sense of royalty in the reading room, and even the door is plated in gold. Containing over 60,000 works, topics include war strategy, martial history and international military magazines from America, Brazil, and France. The library is accessible to the public yet accommodates only 15 people at a time, however, so plan your visit accordingly.

Biblioteca Nacional Militar, Santa Fe 750, Buenos Aires, Argentina +54 011 4311 1071

Military Library in Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2. Biblioteca Nacional Argentina

Library

Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno
© Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg 18+ / Alamy Stock Photo
The earliest and most comprehensive in the nation, this is not just Argentina’s largest collection of information, but it is the most influential in Latin America. Established by Mariano Moreno more than 200 years ago in Microcentro, the library was moved to Montserrat before finding its current home in Recoleta. The property, first owned by Unzue Place, was taken by the state in 1937 and made the official home of Juan Peron and his spouse, Eva ‘Evita’ Peron. She died in the extension that faces the ocean. When Peron was exiled, the palace was torn down and the current library was eventually built on the land.

3. Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación

Library

Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación
© meunierd/Shutterstock
This vast library is located adjacent to Congress and has provided information to congressional members and the public for over 150 years. Once you’re past security, visitors enter a high-ceilinged foyer containing original marble and bronze torsos of Rivadavia and San Martin. Despite a vast collection of over three million pieces, the library’s layout is easy to understand. Everything is contained within one large foyer and subdivided into sections for multimedia, reading, reference, and microfilm which project newspapers from as early as 1810.

4. Biblioteca Publica Municipal Miguel Cané

Library

Pop Art Borges
© Diariodecultura.com
The bones of this library building are nothing to get excited about, but the invaluable assets inside justify its inclusion on this list: it is the former workplace of infamous Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. Over the main reading room is a small room continuously occupied by the writer throughout his career, home to his original desk and other bibliographic artefacts which are still on display. The famous Spanish writer Juan Cruz Ruiz describes the room as a ‘mark of homage’ to Borges and is something which should never disappear.

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.

Read Next

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

View Offers
X
close-ad
Edit article