Day 43: The Italian job

It isn't only the Spanish who are responsible for giving Buenos Aires its famous European character. Many immigrants came here during the boom years in the late 19th Century, 60 years after the Spanish were kicked out, and perhaps the Italians left the greatest mark. They created tango as they worked the docks, and today the Italian food and widespread use of the word "ciao" are other examples. Even the wild gesticulations of the portenos (Buenos Aires folk) could possibly be seen as an Italian trait. No wonder Garibaldi (pictured) has pride of place in Plaza Italia.

And the British? They built the railways (now shamefully left to ruin) and brought perhaps the most cherished import of all, football. A Scot founded the first club and many of the top teams have English, rather than Spanish, names - Boca Juniors, River Plate and Newell Old Boys.