6 Things To Do In Rosario

Rosario, the third most populous city in Argentina, lies approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, in the state of Santa Fe. For me it was the perfect stopover between Buenos Aires and the waterfalls of Iguazu. And there are a lot of things to do, a selection of the top six:

1. Visit CANOB - It is no secret that football is a very big thing in Argentina, and not just in Buenos Aires, people are fanatic everywhere. The local team of Rosario is Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys (CANOB). The stadion (Estadio Marcelo Bielsa) is located in the heart of the city within the Parque Independencia. There is even a grandstand named after Diego Maradona, who used to play for CANOB for a short period of time. It is also worth a visit if there is no match, because the plaza in front of the stadion often transforms to a public barbecue.
2. Eat Helado - Rosario bursts of ice cream cafés. In the inner city there are at least two to three in each block. The ice cream is good and cheap, and apparently every one living in Rosario is addicted to it. It remains a mystery to me why, but I liked it, and so should you.
3. Visit the Monumento a la Bandera - The Monumento histórico nacional a la Bandera was erected to honor the Argentinian flag, which was raised by Manuel Belgrano for the first time on an island on the other side of the river in 1812. It is a monumentous example of architecture which covers more than 10,000 square meters. For a few pesos you can take an elevator up to the top of the monument and enjoy the view.
4. Visit the Río Paraná - Rosario lives at and around its beautiful river. Relax in one of the many parks, eat at one of the mobile foodstands or simply enjoy the view of the nature on the other side of the river.
5. Follow Che Guevara's tracks - Take a look at the casa natal of Che Guevara at the corner of Entre Ríos and Urquiza, visit the plaza dedicated to him (with a statue which was unveiled in 2008, the first of that kind in his native Argentina) or stroll around the Plaza de la Cooperación, which features an image of Ernesto.
6. Visit a Museum - Rosario has a few museums which are worthwhile a visit, for example the Museo Histórico Provincial Dr. Julio Marc, which shows archaeological items, Spanish-American art, and more, or the Museo de la Ciudad which shows items from everyday life in Rosario from the 19th and 20th century.