When I first arrived, I immediately noticed the love for books in Buenos Aires.
On public transportation,most people have a book to keep them occupied. When walking by parks, I always saw people sitting on a bench or relaxing on a blanket reading a book.
I get it. They love books.
I like this part of their culture, and it has inspired me to read more.
I kept hearing about the famous bookstore called Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid. It is always on lists of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, it often comes up in searches of things to see in Buenos Aires.
I figured I should check it out but did not have very high expectations.
I mean, how cool can a bookstore be?
So… um, yeah. Pretty cool.
The building was originally built as a theater in 1919 with a capacity of 1,050. Now you can be one of the one million people to pass through its doors annually.
There is a café in the back where the stage used to be. Although the prices are high, it is a pleasant place to enjoy a coffee and take in the surroundings.
Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid is located at 1860 Avenida Santa Fe in Barrio Norte. When I was there, they had a great international photography exhibit on the upper level.
Have you visited any other cool spaces in converted theaters?
Plan a trip and learn more about Buenos Aires!
This month I am highlighting Buenos Aires in celebration of the release of my Buenos Aires City Guide published by Indie Travel Media. I put a lot into this project, and I am proud of the end product. I love this city, and I want anyone who visits to use this guide to create a unique experience and enjoy the best of Buenos Aires.
So gorgeous! I can’t wait to experience this someday — it must be the perfect place to have coffee at! This is just the kind of environment all books should live in
It is definitely a place you don’t mind spending some time. Actually, a lot of the book stores in Buenos Aires have small cafe areas in the back.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..The Drunken Tree of Buenos Aires
Oh wow you’re not kidding. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bookstore as beautiful as this!
I was amazed by the photos in the amazing bookstores around the world post that I linked to. I hope to see more of them in person.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
Wow. It does look beautiful. I love how they transformed a theater into a bookstore.
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I love this book store! It was a lot of fun to visit it.
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I loved all the bookstores, even the ones that weren’t so fancy. I really like emphasis on reading in their culture. Book stores are such relaxing places.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
omg it looks like an opera house
Hogga recently posted..Surviving the Arctic for Idiots
The opera house in Buenos Aires is way more extravagant. It is amazing the grandeur of the city.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
What a fantastic venue for a book store. I’ve never seen anything quite like that before. Did they have seats anywhere? I always like that feature in a bookstore.
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They have a cafe where the stage used to be. I don’t recall seats in other areas, but I was too busy wandering around taking photos
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
That place is giant! Normally bookstores are pretty quiet places. How about this one?
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It was still reasonably quiet. I think everyone has a tendency to lower their voices when walking in a book store no matter how grand it is.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
What a great way to give a theater a new purpose! I’d visit just to stare at the ceiling.
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I think a lot of people do that…. including me
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
Wow – impressive! I was going to say, looks like a theater…I love a good use of old spaces instead of just knocking them down.
Seriously, that has to be the most fantastic book store I have ever seen!! Just so grand and huge!
Thanks for sharing Steph
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Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Grandeur of Buenos Aires: It’s all in the details
Nice photo and blog. I never been Argentina, it’s too far from my country, Malaysia.
Ken recently posted..Top Five Reasons why to visit Italy
I had no idea that the Argentinians were such avid readers. That’s an interesting tidbit of info that sheds an extra positive light towards their culture.
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It’s something I noticed that is very different from other countries in Latin America. I think it is partly to do with the fact that books are reasonably priced (unlike in Chile).
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Grandeur of Buenos Aires: It’s all in the details
I’m a bookworm and a theatre nerd. This place is pretty much looks like heaven to me.
The perfect place for you to spend a few hours
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Even though I rarely purchased anything from El Ateneo due to the prices and lack of English book selection, I made it a point to visit it often!
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Certainly not the most economical of the librerias.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Grandeur of Buenos Aires: It’s all in the details
Dreamy!! As a book lover, it’s great to know that this is a big part of Argentinean culture. Can’t wait to visit!
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That library is gorgeous. I can imagine reading a period romance in there. The book would really come to life while reading in a setting like that.
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Wow, that’s the most beautiful book store I have seen recently! The book store experience is the only thing that is taken away by Indie publishing. Here, we don’t have many eBooks, but genuine book stores are not doing well because of pirated books, used book market and competition from (new) online ventures…
Destination Infinity recently posted..Dear Diary, My English Teacher
Is that a library or theater? lol. I will put this on my lists.
Wow! That really is impressive. I love it!
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That is certainly an impressive building. Amazing to think they would pay for that much empty space in a retail book store.
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