Villa 31, Informal settlement in Retiro district, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Villa 31 is an informal settlement in the Retiro district of Buenos Aires, Argentina, located near the port and the main train station. The self-built houses rise in tightly packed rows, connected by narrow lanes that wind through the neighborhood in patterns shaped over decades of growth.
The settlement began in 1932 when immigrants and workers occupied the land because of its nearness to jobs during the Great Depression. Over the following years the community grew through migration from different regions of Argentina and neighboring countries.
The Cristo Obrero church stands as a central gathering point where residents participate in community activities and maintain connections to their diverse cultural backgrounds.
The government of Buenos Aires has carried out an integration program that provides basic services such as water, electricity and improved housing conditions for residents. Visitors should remain respectful and aware that this is a lived-in residential area.
The community received international attention when it hosted sports facilities during the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. This event brought recognition to the efforts of residents to improve their neighborhood and integrate it into the city.
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