Florida Street
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Florida is a pedestrian street in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The pedestrian section starts when Perú street crosses Avenida de Mayo, not far from Plaza de Mayo; after 50 meters, Perú street crosses Rivadavia and changes its name to Florida. The street then runs northwards for approximately one kilometer, up to Plaza San Martín in the Retiro area. It intersects Buenos Aires's other pedestrian street - Lavalle, the street of movie theaters.
Florida is one of the city's tourist attractions. It features a variety of malls and shops selling leather goods, jewelery, books, and souvenirs. After the devaluation of 2001, the prices have become attractive to foreigners carrying hard currency, especially business travelers who stay at nearby hotels.
San Telmo and all other attractions of downtown Buenos Aires are a short walk away.
Highlights
The site of Galerías Pacífico used to belong to the state railway company; its name stems from the rail line that linked Argentina to Chile and the Pacific Ocean. Having been rebranded in the 1990s into a high-end mall, the building features frescoes by some of Argentina's most renowned painters.
The Di Tella gallery was one of the hubs of the Buenos Aires pop art scene during the 1960s and 1970s.
Florida also features many renowned restaurants, cafés, and tea rooms.
By day, Florida is crowded with fast-pacing pedestrians because of its location near the financial district. By evening, the pace relaxes as street performers flock to the area, including tango singers and dancers, living statues, and comedy acts.
It has been argued that the restoration of Puerto Madero in the 1990s and the deteriorating crime situation in Buenos Aires made the Florida area less attractive for dining and other nighttime entertainment.
Jorge Luis Borges lived close to the northern end of Florida, and was fond of talking walks through the semi-deserted street in the pre-dawn hours. Borges was an outspoken critic of the renovation work done on the street in the 1970s; he was blind, and the new arrangement of trash cans, flower pots, and magazine stands was a serious accessibility risk. He was also influenced by his esthetic-minded friends who saw the new scheme as a break with tradition.
Transportation
To get to Florida from almost any place in the city, the preferred means of transportation is the subte (subway). All five subway lines have stations within short walking distance of Florida.
Most bus lines reaching the downtown area have stops near Florida.
The Retiro transportation hub, which features a terminal for long-distance buses and access to three major railway lines, is located near the northern end of Florida (the C train provides access to both Retiro and Constitucion station).