If you ask anyone, anywhere in the world, to name a famous person from Argentina, the name Evita likely will be on the short list. This legendary figure, born Eva María Duarte, was born in a small village called Los Toldos in 1919. But after moving to Buenos Aires and pursuing an acting career, she met a man who’d later become president, Colonel Juan Perón. As Evita Perón, the attracted an enthusiastic following from many disenfranchised people in Argentina, and served as the first lady of the nation from 1946 to 1952, the year she died at age 33.
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It says a lot that a first lady remains one of the most revered public figures in any nation (most people can’t even name any first ladies outside of the country in which they live). And the legend of Evita has also fueled an ongoing interest on the part of travelers who want to learn more about the woman when taking a trip to Argentina. Here are 5 ways to experience learn about Evita and her life during your Buenos Aires vacation.
- Visit the Evita Museum
The Museo Evita (Evita Museum) opened in 2002, on the 50th anniversary of her death. Set in an elegant 20th-century mansion that served as the headquarters of the Fundación Eva Perón (Eva Perón Foundation), the museum tells the story of her life chronologically through exhibits that include her clothing and furnishings, as well as documents and photos from her life. The information is largely bilingual (Spanish and English) but, unsurprisingly, skips over any controversial aspects of her life or her political party’s rule. Guided tours in Spanish and English are available, though you should check the schedule for availability. After your visit, stop for lunch at the lovely restaurant, which has outdoor and indoor seating and features interesting, Evita-inspired modern art.••••••
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•••••• - Look Up
You never know when you might be greeted by Evita’s face. Graffiti and street art with her image continue to grace many streets, and there’s a giant portrait of her speaking into a microphone on the side of the Ministry of Health building, on the grand boulevard called 9 de Julio. - Tour the Cemetery
Recoleta Cemetery is logically the most-visited place of rest in all of Buenos Aires. With its lavish mausoleums adorned with elegant and dramatic statuary, this is where the nation’s rich and famous have found eternal slumber for decades, and it’s a fascinating place to stroll. Evita’s family mausoleum, surprisingly, is one of the less impressive structures, but one of the most visited and most photographed. It’s a good place to read up on the strange journey that her remains supposedly took after she passed away.••••••
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•••••• - Visit the Casa Rosada
To see where Evita’s husband worked and where she spent much time, wander the halls on a guided tour of the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s version of the White House (Evita actually aimed to run for vice president, but dropped the idea due to her bad health and resistance from some people to her candidacy). You might even learn a bit about Evita’s “successor,” Isabelita Martínez de Perón, who not only married Juan after Evita’s death, but went on to become Argentina’s president in 1974 and the first female president of any modern government on the planet (incredibly, Isabelita is still alive, though no one talks about her, and no sites or tours commemorate her presidency. Click on her name for insight about why she’s not liked).Guided tours of the Casa Rosada take place on weekends and holidays in Spanish and English, but you need to reserve with the Casa Rosada at least 15 days in advance. - Take an Evita Tour
For the best overview of Evita’s life and her effect on Argentinian society, consider a guided city tour that visits several key attractions, accompanied by an expert who can explain the sociopolitical intricacies of Evita and Peronism as a whole.But be careful: I made the mistake of reserving one of these tours after I arrived, with a company I wasn’t familiar with. The tour was cancelled at the last minute because they didn’t have enough people signed up to justify it. To avoid that hassle, I strongly recommend that you organize your tours before arriving, with a company like Borello Travel & Tours, which is based in New York City but has an office in Buenos Aires and lots of expertise in the city (the owner is actually from Buenos Aires, and no-one knows the Argentinian capital better than her and her team). Every single tour and activity that I set up through Borello took place perfectly.••••••
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••••••HOW I TOURED BUENOS AIRES:Borello Travel & Toursputs together customized and group tours in Buenos Aires, including vacation packages that include extremely good room rates at various hotels, based on your taste and budget.
HOW I GOT THERE:I flew United Airlines, on the amazing new United Polaris business class service, which is now available on nonstop flights between Newark and Buenos Aires.