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La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse (or Bocadaze in genoese dialect), and some people believe that the Buenos Aires' barrio was indeed named after it. After a lengthy general strike, La Boca seceded from Argentina in 1882, and the rebels raised the Genoese flag, which was immediately torn down personally by then President Julio Argentino Roca.
It is known throughout the sporting world as the home of Boca Juniors, one of South America's top football clubs. La Boca is a popular destination for tourists visiting Argentina, with its colourful houses and main street, the Caminito. Other attractions include the La Ribera theatre, many tango clubs and Italian taverns, as well as La Bombonera, home of Boca Juniors.
It has also been a centre for radical politics, having elected the first socialist member of Argentine Congress (Alfredo Palacios in 1935) and been home to many demonstrations during the crisis of 2001.
As one of Buenos Aires's 47 barrios, La Boca is located in the city's south-east near its port. The barrio of Barracas is to the west; San Telmo and Puerto Madero are to the north. |
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