Casa Mínima is located at Pasaje San Lorenzo 380 in San Telmo, just off the main street, Defensa. To get there, you can take the Subte (Subway) to Line C, San Juan station, and walk a few blocks to Pasaje San Lorenzo — it’s tucked away on this charming little side street. Keep an eye out, though, because it’s easy to miss with how narrow it is!
Read also: The best moment to visit San Telmo market
Casa Mínima
As for its construction, the house dates back to the early 1800s. It has a simple, modest design, made from the classic materials of the time: stone, brick, and stucco. Its facade has a single iron balcony above the narrow doorway, and it’s only two stories tall, fitting snugly between two larger buildings. The narrow structure was a creative solution for limited space, maximizing vertical room with high ceilings on each floor to give it a bit of extra breathing space.
The house’s origins are mysterious, but legend has it that Casa Mínima was given to a freed slave after the abolition of slavery in Argentina. The house may have been an unusual property grant given its size and limitations, and it’s said that the freed slave’s family lived there for many years afterward, making it both a landmark of architectural creativity and an emblem of freedom and resilience.
Today, Casa Mínima has become something of a local icon. Although it’s a private property and you can’t go inside, just standing there and admiring this architectural oddity is worth the visit. When you’re there, you’ll get a sense of how resourceful early residents of San Telmo were — fitting so much life and history into such a small footprint.
San Telmo neighborhood
Speaking of San Telmo, the neighborhood itself is a dream for anyone who loves a mix of bohemian charm, history, and a bit of grit. Around Casa Mínima, you’ll find antique shops, vintage boutiques, and art galleries dotted along Defensa Street.
Sundays here are especially lively with the San Telmo Market, a huge street fair where you can grab handmade crafts, antiques, and of course, street food (choripán, anyone?). You can even watch tango dancers performing right on the cobblestone streets.
Not too far from Casa Mínima is the Mercado de San Telmo, a traditional covered market where you can dig into Argentine classics or find fresh produce and local cheeses. San Telmo’s vibe is a blend of old Buenos Aires with that bohemian touch – there’s really nowhere else like it.
