BIBLIOTECA NACIONALThe 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.
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BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE MAESTROSDebuting 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.
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BIBLIOTECA MUNICIPAL MIGUEL CANÉ
Founded in 1927, this quiet unassuming, little place has more fame than you might think thanks to providing Jorge Luis Borges with his first job. The literary genius started his career classifying books and writing his first short stories in his spare time. Tucked away in the neighborhood of Boedo, it has a swoon-worthy collection of classic books and has been visited by literary greats like Juan Villoro, Mario Vargas Llosa and Jorge Edwards. The place has become a must see attraction for foreigners who are eager to follow Borges’ steps. Above the main hall, there is a room where the famous author used to work: scattered around the place the visitor will be able to find his desk, a typewriter and some of the author’s most iconic books and translations. The library not only presents itself as a cozy neighborhood spot but also as a place of history where the greatest Argentine author kick started his epic writing career.