El Zanjón de Granados

Top choice


This amazing urban architectural site is a must for travelers interested in the city's history. A series of old tunnels, sewers and cisterns (built from 1730 onwards) were constructed above a river tributary and provided the base for one of Buenos Aires' oldest settlements, which later became a family mansion and later tenement housing.

The Zanjón is the realized dream of Jorge Eckstein, who found these ruins in 1986 after purchasing land for a business project and then spent years renovating them into what you see today. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s history; meticulously reconstructed brick by brick and beautifully illuminated, this site also contains several courtyards and even a watchtower.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Archivo del Ejército

0.04 MILES

Built in 1881, this building was where Argentinian money was minted until 1944. It now contains military archives.

2. Mercado de San Telmo

0.17 MILES

Occupying an entire city block, this striking marketplace was built in 1897 by Juan Antonio Buschiazzo, the Italian-born Argentine architect who designed…

3. Facultad de Ingeniería

0.22 MILES

This neoclassical building is the engineering school for the Universidad de Buenos Aires. It was originally built for the Fundación Eva Perón and is an…

4. Plaza Dorrego

0.25 MILES

After Plaza de Mayo, Plaza Dorrego is the city’s oldest plaza. Dating back to the 18th century, it was originally a pit stop for caravans bringing…

5. Feria de San Telmo

0.26 MILES

On Sundays, San Telmo’s main drag is closed to traffic and the street is a sea of both locals and tourists browsing craft stalls, waiting at vendors’…

7. Pasaje de la Defensa

0.33 MILES

Originally built for the Ezeiza family in around 1880, this building later became a conventillo (tenement house) that was home to dozens of families…

8. Museo Nacional de la Historia del Traje

0.34 MILES

This small clothing museum is always changing its wardrobe. You can hit upon wedding outfits from the late 1800s, popular fashions from the early 1900s or…