Argentina offers much to its visitors, from its seductive tango dancers and delicious steak, to the creation of Quirino Cristiani’s first animated film in 1917.
Argentina’s culture is deeply influenced by European heritage, evident through their music, architecture and writing styles.
1. It’s the southernmost city in the world
Argentina is an idyllic country with an intriguing past, rich with bustling cities, picturesque villages, stunning natural wonders and much more. However, not everyone knows everything there is about Argentina; so in this blog post we will share seven little-known facts about this lovely nation that might surprise you!
1. Argentina was the first country to adopt fingerprinting as a means of identification, in the late 1800s when police in Buenos Aires used fingerprinting to solve a murder case by matching up bloody prints found on doorposts with suspects identified by fingerprinting.
2. Argentina is heavily influenced by European culture. Music, writing, dance and social customs all draw from European influences to shape its cultural fabric – particularly Spanish as an official language of Argentina.
3. Buenos Aires boasts one of the premier polo teams in the world – known for its style, speed and precision – as well as delicious cuisine and impressive architecture.
4. Argentina is known for being image-focused culture, leading to one of the highest rates of anorexia globally. Furthermore, people in Argentina love getting tattoos and piercings. Famous athletes such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi even founded religions to honor their heroes!
5. Buenos Aires is home to the world’s largest mosque. Built in 2000 and dedicated to late Saudi King Fahd (deceased), it can accommodate over 14,000 worshipers at any one time.
As is evident from this guide, Argentina holds many intriguing and surprising facts that may leave visitors speechless. Take some time when visiting this beautiful nation to appreciate all its remarkable aspects.
2. It’s home to one of the best polo teams in the world
Argentina is well known for its steak, wine and tango but also boasts one of the world’s greatest polo teams. Polo has long been considered “the sport of kings”; players use long mallets to hit plastic balls on horseback with long mallets – championship matches in Palermo and Hurlingham Club draw large crowds and attract championship matches with huge international appeal. From 1900-1936 the game featured as an Olympic sport; however due to financial issues of 1936 it fell out of favour among many nations who had long supported it as summer Olympic sports
Argentina’s people are an unique blend of Latin American and European influences, evidenced in their music, architecture, writing, dance and social customs. Argentina’s turbulent history has also left its mark; for example the tango originated in taverns before being banned due to being considered immoral; now one of the most beloved dance forms around and an integral part of Argentina’s cultural identity and heritage.
No matter your travel goals or interests, Argentina has something for you. From Aconcagua Mountains to Iguazu Falls, Argentina is a land of extremes that gives visitors an insight into its rich culture and breathtaking natural scenery. So don’t wait! Start planning your adventure now to Argentina!
3. It’s home to some of the highest rates of anorexia in the world
Argentina’s history of political instability has resulted in an obsession with thinness among its population, according to local health professionals who attribute it as the reason for higher anorexia rates than anywhere else worldwide. Many Argentinians struggle with body image issues – especially those who have become famous models or celebrities.
Argentina’s cuisine stands out in South America by combining European culinary inspirations that you won’t find elsewhere on the continent. Spanish culinary influences can be found in churros and dulce de leche while French culinary style influences can be seen in its pastries and savory casseroles. Argentina also stands out among South American nations due to its geographical diversity which means various regions boast tropical climates which in turn produces different vegetables and fruits throughout its landscapes.
Beef is an iconic food item in Argentina, likely thanks to their famous cowboys known as gauchos (cowboys). Argentinians love eating beef in many forms: from grilling, roasting and stewing it; asado being one popular method; empanadas and alfajores (cookies stuffed with dulce de leche) are other favourite dishes among locals.
Yerba Mate, served in a gourd and consumed through a metal straw known as a bombilla, is another widely consumed beverage in Argentina. A popular choice during long wait times and considered impolite to refuse when offered a cup, yerba Mate often breaks down social barriers by serving to break them down more effectively.
Argentinans are passionate football supporters, and in 1998 the Church of Maradona was created in honour of legendary player Diego Maradona. Today it boasts more than 120,000 members as a testament to Maradona’s legendary skills.
4. It’s home to some of the largest slums in the world
Argentineans pride themselves on being multilingual; although Spanish remains their primary language, English can also be heard frequently. While Argentinians tend to be punctual with meetings and appointments, some can be inconsiderate when it comes to times: not expecting others to keep appointments on schedule while not holding themselves to similar standards themselves.
Villas Miserias (villas of misery), Argentina is home to an abundance of slums known as villas miserias (villas of misery). Constructed out of wood and mud, these slums house thousands of people living close together creating both health and fire risks – as well as often being plagued with crime and poverty which local authorities find it hard to address effectively.
Margarita Garcia resided on the poor southern edge of Buenos Aires, where rainstorms had overwhelmed their neighborhood and the water rose up to her knees as she made her way up her street toward her ramshackle home. Although she’d built up a blockade out of boards against them, their torrents had still reached her homestead despite it.
As she approached her front door, the flood of water receded, revealing a muddy carpet of garbage and clothing left behind by previous residents. Taking one last chance before heading out onto the street she donned a worn poncho from her closet and set out.
Many of us first became acquainted with Argentina through Evita in 1978, yet this breathtaking country offers so much more than its most well-known figure. These fun facts about Argentina may inspire you to look up cheap airfares and plan a visit. Argentina borders Chile in the west; Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay in the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast; boasting stunning mountain landscapes and otherworldly natural extremes, it should definitely be explored further.
5. It’s home to some of the best graffiti in the world
Argentina is a nation rich in culture. Its turbulent past has given rise to passionate artistic expression through literature and film, architectural design and dance culture. Although much of Argentina’s identity stems from European influences that shaped its history, strong indigenous traditions from Latin America also play a large role in its heritage.
One of the fascinating aspects of Argentine culture is their unique interpretation of graffiti art. While most other countries consider this form of vandalism vandalism, in Argentina graffiti art is seen as legitimate form of public expression and most Argentines consider it just as legitimate as other forms of artwork; its only illegality stemming from not receiving permission from property owners before doing any painting on private property.
Argentina may be small in size but boasts some of the finest graffiti around due to a variety of factors, including its constant development and change. Furthermore, it hosts an active art scene that’s known for being very liberal when it comes to artistic expression; and being a popular tourist destination means there are always new and exciting works of graffiti to discover!
Argentina’s culture is one of its greatest strengths: it embraces immigrants with open arms. Argentina is famously a melting pot of cultures, and you might often hear someone refer to themselves as being “an Italian who speaks Spanish but secretly wants to be French”. This may be partially explained by Argentina being one of the two most sought-after destinations for immigrants between 1857 and 1950.