
Buenos Aires’ "newest" neighborhood, luxury apartment towers have been built along the famous "diques" or artificial harbor basins of a bygone era. Historic warehouses now house fine restaurants and exclusive loft style offices. Towering shipping cranes, lighted at night for stunning effect, have been left in place like exotic sculptures. Strolling along the diques is a porteño ritual of people watching. Tour retired naval vessels turned museums. Cross the diques via the Women's Bridge, designed by famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and inaugurated in 2001. To the east of Puerto Madero is the vast marshy Ecological Reserve, the best place in Buenos Aires to birdwatch, hike or jog. To the west of Puerto Madero is Microcentro with its museums, historic government buildings and convenient access via public transportion to all other areas of Buenos Aires. Most apartments in Puerto Madero have stunning city views or views over the Ecological Reserve to the Rio de la Plata.