In Plaza Dorrego, numerous antique stalls are grouped together with the air of a sophisticated flea market.
Located in the heart of the San Telmo neighborhood, many of the 19th-century mansions around it have been recycled and transformed into cafes, antique shops (especially on Defensa street) or upmarket restaurants. In addition, it is usually one of the places with the most street artists in the City.
The square is considered a Historic Place, since it was there that the people of Buenos Aires were announced that the country had achieved its Independence.
In 1970, the architect José María Peña, then director of the City Museum, thought of a fair that could revitalize San Telmo. He convinced thirty neighbors to sell "old stuff" that they had in their houses and a year later the fair was a success, with more than 200 antique stalls. Years later, the Defense Street district is one of the most prestigious antique centers in America.
Plaza Dorrego Fair
The fair, also known as Feria de San Telmo, has spread to neighboring streets, taking Humberto Primo and Defensa streets to Parque Lezama and part of the Giuffra Passage. The stalls located on the square are mostly antique dealers, while those on Defense Street sell handicrafts and "rare" objects.
It is one of the few completely paved squares in Buenos Aires. In colonial times, the area was known as "Alto de las carretas" because carts pulled by oxen or horses used it as a stop before crossing a stream to reach the center of Buenos Aires.