One of the things you have to do whilst in Buenos Aires is to visit La Boca landmarks. Whether it is going to see a football match, taking a tour of the Boca Juniors Stadium (La Bombonera), or going sightseeing along the colourful streets of Caminito, La Boca has a lot to offer! Although this Buenos Aires neighbourhood can be quite touristy and it is a must-see on most sightseeing tours and tour bus routes, it is one of the only neighbourhoods which gives a real insight into what traditional life was like in Buenos Aires. One of those is the must-see Boca landmark on the south side of the neighbourhood! [caption id="attachment_1866" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Puente Transbordador in La Boca Puente Transbordador in La Boca[/caption] However, one attraction that many people have probably seen when visiting La Boca but do not know what it was built for, is the Puente Transbordador (Transporter Bridge). This huge, dominating Boca landmark is located at the portside area of El Caminito, to the north of the Riachuelo-Matanza River, the Transporter Bridge linked Maciel Island with the mainland of Buenos Aires, La Boca, after it had been completed in May 1914. The bridge was named after the former President, Nicolas Avellaneda and it was used to carry pedestrians, carts, cars and trams. Although it is not the most attractive construction Buenos Aires has to offer, it is certainly one of the most impressive and has become a tourist attraction itself. This Transporter Bridge was seen as a significant achievement for Argentina and the Porteños (citizens of Buenos Aires), as there were only 20 built in the world and it was constructed during the Argentine industrial revolution. However, as the number of people using cars has increased in Buenos Aires, the necessity for the Transporter Bridge has decreased until it was eventually decommissioned in 1960. In 1940, the new Puente Transbordador Nicolas Avellaneda was constructed as a road bridge, less than 100 metres away from the original, old Transporter Bridge. The new bridge has taken many design features from the old Transporter Bridge and it has even taken on the same name. [caption id="attachment_1867" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Puente Transbordador a true Boca landmark Puente Transbordador, a true Boca landmark[/caption] Although the Transporter Bridge is unused, it is one of 8 transporter bridges which remains standing in the world, and is the only one outside of Europe. It is also extremely symbolic as the Boca landmark features in many photographs of La Boca as well as, in many of Quinquela Martin’s paintings. Its legacy still lives on, having become a national monument and in 1995, it was voted as a Site of Cultural Interest in Buenos Aires and is currently protected as a National Historic Monument. Make sure you go and see this impressive Boca landmark and visit this national monument and local treasure that is seen and known by few tourists who visit Buenos Aires.

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