According to ehealthfacts, the culture of Argentina is “more European” than that of the other South American countries because the immigrants from Europe preserved their traditions. Mediterranean cultural elements dominate, especially from Spain and Italy. The cultural life is concentrated in the European-looking cities such as Córdoba, Rosario or Mendoza, but especially in the metropolis of Buenos Aires. It is also the “capital” of the world-famous tango that was created here, with the Teatro Colón it has one of the most famous opera houses in the world and the renowned International Festival of Independent Film takes place every year. As the spiritual center of Argentina, the capital also houses 100 museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano Bellas Artes and the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano. Contemporary Argentine literature also has its origins in the big cities. It was significantly shaped by the poet and narrator J. L. Borges . He wrote surrealist poetry as well as fantastic stories with a philosophical tendency and is considered one of the “ancestors” of postmodernism. Another world-class Argentine poet is E. Sábato . In his from the French Existentialism influenced novels, for example in “Sobre héroes y tumbas” (1961; German “About Heroes and Graves”), he describes human existence in all its facets. The Argentine literature also has the Gaucho a monument. In the rhyming epic »Martín Fierro« (1872–79, 2 parts; German), J. Hernández describes the fate of the mounted cattle herder in the Argentine pampas, the counterpart of the North American cowboy.

Colonial architecture is still preserved in old cities. Cordoba has a picturesque old townscape with the cathedral (around 1687–1729) as the most important building. Well-known representatives of Argentine art are the painter E. Pettorut i with abstract works and the socially committed A. Berni with his murals in Buenos Aires ( Latin American art ).

Not only the emotionally charged tango determines the Argentine music scene. Folk music and folk dance influenced by the music of the Andean highlands are also popular. Well-known representatives of this musical style were Atahualpa Yupanqui (* 1908, † 1992) and the singer of Indian descent Mercedes Sosa . Argentine rock and pop music is often sung in Spanish. – The international music elite include the experimental composer M. Kagel and the classical pianist Martha Argerich .

The most popular sport is soccer. The national team is the winner of soccer world championships and multiple South American champions (Copa América). The national sport is El Pato, an equestrian sport comparable to polo that was originally practiced by the gauchos.

World Heritage Sites in Argentina

World Heritage Sites (K) and World Natural Heritage (N)

• National Park Los Glaciares (N; 1981)
• Iguaçu National Park (N; 1984)
• Jesuit missions of the Chiquitanos and the Guaraní (San Ignacio Miní, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor) (K; 1984)
• Peninsula Valdés (N; 1999)
• Cueva de las Manos (cave paintings) on the Río Pinturas (K; 1999)
• Ischigualasto Nature Park and Talampaya Nature Park (N; 2000)
• Monuments of the Jesuits in and around Córdoba (K; 2000)
• Quebrada (gorge) de Humahuaca (K; 2003)
• Great Inca Road » Qhapaq Ñan « in the Andes (K; 2014)
• House Curutchet by Le Corbusier in La Plata (K; 2016)
• Los Alerces National Park (N; 2017)

Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks (World Heritage)

The bizarre, desert-like landscapes of the neighboring national parks in northwest Argentina were created over thousands of years by erosion. Ischigualasto is one of the most interesting fossil sites in the world. 230 million year old dinosaur bones were found here.

Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks: Facts

Monuments of the Jesuits in and around Córdoba (World Heritage)

Monuments of the Jesuits in and around Córdoba (world heritage), the cathedral from the 18th century, the university founded in 1613, the Jesuit church Compañía de Jesus as well as monasteries and country houses are reminiscent of the work of the Jesuits in South America over a period of about 150 years.

Jesuit monuments in and around Córdoba: facts