Each Sunday in Buenos Aires, the San Telmo feria spans a nearly mile-long stretch of Calle Defensa, beginning at the iconic Plaza de Mayo and culminating in an antiques flea market at Plaza Dorrego. Vendors pack the cobbled streets of Defensa and crowds of tourists and Argentines browse through the goods, picking up items here and there as they munch on empanadas and choripan.
It is the oldest and the most popular fería in Buenos Aires. There are hundreds of booths and stands carrying the prettiest and random hand crafted items you could think of. What make this market famous and unique are the antiques. In the many antique booths you can find valuables, one-of-a-kind items, and hidden treasures. Visiting this market is also a great way to explore San Telmo which is one of the oldest, most diverse, and unique neighborhoods in Buenos Aires.
Tip: Check out the free tango shows as well as awesome street performers
I came to Buenos Aires to Study Spanish, so from Monday to Friday, I spent most of my time at Vamos Spanish Academy, a language school located in the Palermo area. After a few weeks of classes, I took my second trip to the feria/market this past weekend and was once again impressed by the range and quality of items for sale. While most items are catered to tourists, the feria offers much more than mass-produced Argentine flags and Che Guevara t-shirts. Many vendors are local artisans selling exquisitely handcrafted goods that make excellent souvenirs or gifts for friends and family.
Popular feria items include leather goods: wallets, purses, and even leather jackets; silver jewelry with rodocrosita, Argentina’s national stone; and mate gourds, bombillas, and accessories. Lots of merchants sell photos of iconic scenes of Buenos Aires: the colorful houses of Caminito in La Boca or tango dancers in San Telmo, and artists sell watercolor and acrylic paintings of Argentina.
If you get hungry while wandering through the feria, food vendors offer a variety of snacks, ranging from parrilla-style cuts of meat to chocolate-covered churros. Men and women stroll through the market with carts of coffee, sold by the cup, and merchants sell orange juice that they squeeze fresh when you order it. Cafés and restaurants also line Defensa, and many have outdoor seating, which provides a great opportunity for people watching.
The feria is easily accessible by bus or subway and is the perfect activity for a Sunday afternoon. Even if you’re not interested in buying anything, the stroll down Defensa is a great opportunity to explore Buenos Aires.
Overview of San Talmo neighborhood:
For more information about San Telmo or Vamos Spanish Academy enter https://vamospanish.com or visit us at Viamonte 1516, CABA, Argentina. 01159842201
