Finally we can spread the word about one of the most important aspects of our culture! fileteado! What is ‘fileteado’? Fileteado, the graffiti made in Argentina! The word fileteado comes from Latin prefix “filo“, which means “thread”.

Thus, fileteado is an “ornamental thread” which with its shapes and colors revolutionized early 20th century Buenos Aires, when Italian immigrants who worked for carriages shops introduced new lines and shades in vehicle decoration. It emerged together with tango music and became a symbol of Argentine identity,

Like every other expresion of art, the history of Fileteado is covered with legends and is certainly uncertain. The stories are so often repeated that they almost become true.

Either the traveler who is visiting Buenos Aires, or the locals, can track such a legacy in the streets of the city. That’s the idea behind the Fileteado Porteño Tour which took the Abasto as the emblematic neighborhood of this art and Tango

Recently the Fileteado Porteño was declared Intangible World Heritage by Unesco, the same recognition received by Tango in 2009.

It is amazing walking on the streets of the Abasto neighborhood being able to see the houses with their walls painted in a similar way as you see with the graffiti and Street art at Palermo and Villa Crespo. 700 Jean Jaures Street you can find what can be called the best expression of the Fileteado visible to all.. A contest was organized by the House Museum of Carlos Gardel and the owners of six houses restored their facades with decorations of the Fileteado Technique.

After the walking the tour ends with a brief lesson about the Fileteado Techniques at the Conventillo Cultural Abasto. With the guidance of an expert we had the opportunity to paint our own fileteado and share the experience with other travelers  who came to Buenos Aires with the idea of living Buenos Aires like a porteño.

If you are visiting Buenos Aires and you want to get to know our culture away from the crowded tours or traditional experiences we recommend the Fileteado Porteño Tour. Your travelers will love it as much as we love our culture.