In a quiet corner of Buenos Aires there is a space so much old history that its cobbled streets, its narrow sidewalks, and its old mansions tell the story of the development and growth of the city itself: It is the neighbourhood barrio of Monserrat, west of the port and the place where the political history of the country started.

It owes its name to the Virgin of Monserrat - la Virgen de Nuestra Seora de Monserrat, whose original image was hidden from the Moors in the mountains outside Barcelona. A hundred years afterwards, when they were found again, both the Virgin and the Child had a dark complexion, as a consequence of time, and so they started to call her "La Moreneta" or "La Morenita" the Dark or Black one.

From Catalua in Spain it reached Buenos Aires, where the black community welcomed it and made it its own, taking it out in procession every 8th of September each year.

The barrio of Monserrat has also been called the neighbourhood of the drums - "Barrio del Tambor", for the drums that the black Porteos played, forming different groups called Cabunda, Banguela, Mondongo and Angola.

In spite of the fact that the black people have blended and made themselves unnoticeable in Argentina, they have left the memory of their carnivals, where they would dance their joyous candombes and from whence notable musicians such as the Negro Grigera or Bernardo Pintos emerged.

Since its origins, Monserrat was also a Spanish barrio or neighbourhood, where immigrants settled mainly along the Avenidas Mayo, Belgrano and Rivadavia. The whole history of the city, and even of the whole country can be easily observed through its buildings and plazas, most of them considered Historical Monuments.

As an example, the Plaza de Mayo Square offers the visitor a sample of every historical era of the country. Split down the middle by the Recova, which was the place where all the merchants came together during colonial times, it was once the setting for a bullfight in honour of Libertador Don Jos de San Martn.

The Plaza de Mayo was the centre of the square lay out of the city, surrounding it we find the Town Hall or Cabildo, the seat of government during colonial times, today a museum; la Casa Rosada, the Pink House, the seat of the National Executive Power i.e. the presidential palace; and the City Cathedral - la Catedral Metropolitana, built during the XVIII century in neo classical style, which today holds the mortal remnants of Don Jos de San Martn.

In the centre of the Plaza one can find the Obelisk - el Obelisco de Mayo, built in commemoration of the Revolution of 1810.

A few blocks away, in the corner of Alsina and Defensa, you can visit the Farmacia de la Estrella - the Star Pharmacy, which has wooden entrance and paintings allusive to health and medicine. On the first floor you will find the Museum dedicated to the city of Buenos Aires.

Then, walking towards Bolvar, one reaches the Manzana de las Luces - the Illuminated Quarter, where the visitor must visit the old defensive tunnels of the XVIII century and the Church of San Ignacio.

The Mayo Av is born at his plaza, with its buildings of splendid fronts. The legendary Caf Tortoni is one of the most outstanding of the coffee shops. The Mayo Av leads to the Palace of Congress, where the National Legislature holds its sessions during the legislative year.

Today the barrio has important office buildings, banks, cafs, hotels, shops and restaurants, apart from being the City Government Centre.