San Telmo's history has been extendedly documented and it's all over the internet. The San Pedro Telmo Church gives the name to the neighborhood.

Location:
San Telmo it's located close to downtown and it's limits are: Chile street (monserrat limits), Ingeniero Huergo (Puerto Madero limits), Parque Lezama (Barracas and Boca Limits) and 9 de Julio (Constitucion Limits). While San Telmo it's really in the middle of nice neighborhoods as Puerto Madero, business districts as monserrat and poor neighborhoods as constitucion and barracas, San Telmo remained neutral and central, just like switzerland in europe. Besides this fact, San Telmo has two faces: One it's commercial and nice (the central eastern part) and the other part more outside keeps more ugly because of some houses taken by the force and cheap hotels.

Safety:
The central area it's VERY safe during both day and night. The tourist police controls the area which it's also monitored by the police hidden cams. However, keep away from 9 de julio ave which it's unsafe, as well as parque lezama. In theory ugly people means unsafe. The central point of the safety of San Telmo it's the central square "Plaza Dorrego", however, Barbara Bush (US President Doughter) was pickpocketed in there (read the abc news archive) and another source The funnier of this it's I was one block away that day and I have seen a lot of police in the area and my local police friend (the police station it's just one block away) told me they never found the real pick pocketer. However, the area it's safe, just keep on looking your stuff.

Restaurants and bars:
There are a lot of restaurants and bars in San Telmo. Many are Buenos Aires classics. Many other are too much touristy like "La Brigada". In general the not "too touristy" ones are fair priced and with an average quality. Also bars there are mainly by Humbero Primo street and close to the dorrego square. Over chile and mexico streets there are many restaurants with inexpensive menus mainly oriented to office workers at lunch time. A very good nice restaurant it's Burzaco, located over Mexico Street close to Defensa. The lunch menus starts at 12 pesos. Some of these restaurants just close during the night. Some others also offer menus in the night.

Main activity of the neighborhood:
In general it's a residencial / commercial neighborhood. Some people live in there but there are many private businesses offices mainly related to arts and design. Publishers, producers, artists, designers choose both San Telmo and Palermo as their favorite neighborhoods to place their neighborhoods. Boutiques are also increasing their presence in San Telmo. A classic it's the big amount of Antique shops by Defensa street, there are a lot.

Main avenues and transportation:
Main avenues are San Juan, Independencia, 9 de Julio and Alem Ave. The closer subway station it's line E Bolivar station and San Juan Station. Colectivos (buses) there are several that go to both palermo direction and la boca, San Telmo it's in the middle so many lines crosses San Telmo, however, one of the things I like about San Telmo it's the narrow streets don't allow too many buses and I hate busses. A cab from San Telmo to Palermo Las Canitas may cost up to 18 pesos (october 2007).

Attractions and Nightlife:
The old market it's a must visit. It's beautiful. Sundays over defensa street there is a open sky ped mall market of almost everything, with tango dancers, tango performers, and a lot of tourism. The Tango, restaurants and some tanguerias and argentine rock spots as Mitos Argentinos (Humerto Primo and Bolivar) also attracts a lot of locals, because it's almost the only one bar oriented to Argentine Rock. La trastienda (balcarce and chile) Michelangelo (Tango / Restaurant) are also very important spots. There is a high nightlife activity in San Telmo, however, the neighborhood it's more hippie oriented than hip-oriented as Palermo las canitas / Puerto Madero are.

Real Estate evolution:
The value per square meter rised the USD 1.300 per square meter (in the nice part of San Telmo) in August 2007. In 2006 was close to the USD 700 per square meter. The real estate in the area evolved and still going up. There are very nice classic old buildings in the area as well there are many old and bad maintained properties.

Pictures of San Telmo

Videos in San Telmo:
In the videos section