The iron frame
La Boca's symbol.
DerHexer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sandro Halank — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chechupuma — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Judyeri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mauricio V. Genta — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Beaudroit — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Nicolás Avellaneda «Transbordador» is a huge iron structure over the Riachuelo between La Boca and the city of Avellaneda, one of Buenos Aires' most famous sights alongside the Obelisk. It is a rare kind of bridge: traffic does not cross on a deck; instead a gondola hangs from the high frame and carries people and vehicles from bank to bank. It is one of eight such bridges still standing in the world, the only one in the Americas, and a National Historic Monument. Opened in 1914 to serve the factories and shipyards on both banks, it carried up to 17,000 workers a day, then fell idle after a new bridge was built and the port declined, and in 1993 it was nearly sold for scrap until a neighbourhood campaign saved it. It was restored between 2013 and 2017, keeping its original design and machinery, and formally reopened in 2020. The bridge can be seen for free from the La Boca riverside walk, steps from Caminito, best at sunset. Check whether the gondola is running on the day you visit.
La Boca's symbol.
Bank to bank.
From scrap to restored.
Over the Riachuelo, at the edge of La Boca facing Isla Maciel
Museo Benito Quinquela MartínThe Benito Quinquela Martín Museum stands on the La Boca waterfront, on land don5 minutes walk
Fundación ProaFundación Proa is a private art centre founded in 1996 in La Boca, steps from co7 minutes walk
Caminito (La Boca)Caminito, the little walkway, is a short lane in La Boca at the mouth of the Ria7 minutes walk4.4
La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors MuseumLa Bombonera, officially the Estadio Alberto José Armando, is the home of Boca J10 minutes walk4.7
Usina del ArteThe Usina del Arte is a cultural centre and concert hall in La Boca, filling an 14 minutes walkIt is a rare transporter bridge with a hanging gondola instead of a deck, one of eight in the world and the only one in the Americas.