|
|
|
| |
| |
| La Boca, History |
| |
| |
| |
Historians coincide in indicating "La Boca" as the place where Pedro de Mendoza founded the city of Santa Maria of the Buenos Aires, in 1536. From earlier on "La Boca del Riachuelo" was the natural port of Buenos Aires. The port though had a few problems: Its shallow depth did not allow large vessels to come in. Added to that the sandbanks were also causing a few problems, and since the channel of entry was not precisely deep either it was essential to consider the low and hide tides before entry.
Numerous were the projects needed before a new important port was generated to the north of the original port of Buenos Aires. This new settlement led to the progressive deterioration of the Riachuelo River. Nonetheless, this river is still to this day the symbol of the La Boca district and it is impossible to conceive one without the other or vice versa.
At the end of the 20th century La Boca was a district with a strong Italian presence conformed mainly by immigrants from Genovese origin. The massive immigration that the River Plate district received was accompanied by distinctive elements that helped create new ways, habits, and new expressions in the way of living. This colorful Italian immigration was responsible for all kinds of eccentric contributions in the making of his society. Italy was in those days a mosaic of nationalities and its polychromic nature was sure to rub off in our ground and especially in La Boca.
Although the conditions were always very adverse, they settled the famous "barracks", which were very humble constructions where different products were stored, and leather was processed. Since it was a typical place for sailors to hang out, numerous bars were also opened.
In the year 1882 as a result from a strike in which the National State intervened to settle differences between the parts; a meeting was held in the Italian Society where it was resolved that the Argentine State did not have the right to solve issues competing to Italians and the Independent Republic of La Boca. Furthermore, the Italian immigrants went as far as writing a record where the King of Italy was notified of the creation of this independent state. Immediately afterwards the Genovese flag was hoisted in a nearby square. When this event came to the attention of the Argentine president Julio Roca, he went personally to the place, lowered it with his hands, and convinced the dissidents to lay down this attitude.
The residents of La Boca, were always entertaining, noisy and melancholic. They were speaking the dialect known as xeneixe - that of the Genoveses - as if they did at home. They were very hard-working and brotherly, to the point that several institutions of community support were formed there. They edited newspapers, founded sports and cultural clubs. Considering its big sensibility for the arts, this district has given birth to: singers, musicians, poets and plastic artists, many of which stand out in the popular preference today.
In its origins its houses were of two types: of wood or of steel sheet, both with balconies of iron. It is still possible to find them in considerable number of examples. They are actually the image of La Boca. The origin of the diverse colors they were painted in has to do with the surpluses of paint that the sailors were bringing to their houses, as paint was so costly, and the scarce quantity to paint the whole house of the same color, they took advantage of the very last drop, therefore, they proceeded to paint the frames first and so on until its lasted, and then to start with a brand new color. |
| |
| * |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
