Almagro () is a mostly middle-class barrio or neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The neighbourhood is delimited by La Plata avenue and Río de Janeiro street to the west, Independencia avenue to the south, Sánchez de Bustamante, Sánchez de Loria and Gallo streets to the east, and Córdoba/Estado de Israel avenues to the north. Almagro features strong commercial activity along its avenues, and has a high population density due to the many high-rise buildings erected along the railway line. The sectional government of the 6th circuit, which includes Almagro and Boedo, is located on Díaz Vélez avenue opposite Centenario park. History In the 18th century, what is now the western part of Almagro belonged to Portuguese merchant Carlos de los Santos Valente and then to his estate. The eastern and northern sections were in the possession of Spaniard Juan María de Almagro y de la Torre, a barrister. The Argentine revolutionary government confiscated Almagro's lands, only to return them to him in 1820. Both Santos Valente and Almagro managed agricultural establishments, and did not favor any kind of urban development. During the 19th century, most of the neighbourhood was occupied by dairy farms and brick factories. Almagro and Caballito were located on the road between Buenos Aires and the city of Flores. In 1880, Almagro was officially incorporated into the Federal district. The neighbourhood came into its own around 1900, following the erection of the San Carlos parish church in 1878, the introduction of the tramway, and the massive immigration (Almagro was settled mostly by Basques and Italians). Rapid urbanization brought about the conventillos (immigrant hotels). The assimilation of immigrants into the local culture was quick, and Almagro became the birthplace of many famous tangos. Due to its proximity to the Abasto market, singer Carlos Gardel was a frequent visitor, and in 1930 he recorded a tango named Almagro. Many Almagro institutions became relevant in the Buenos Aires landscape: The Colégio Pio IX (or Pio IX Secondary School), whose alumni includes famous Tango singer Carlos Gardel, Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, Argentine President Arturo Illia and distinguished engineers like Curiosity Rover, and other Mars NASA missions, Chief Engineer for the Guidance, Navigation, and Control system Miguel San Martín. The Las Violetas coffee house, opened in 1884, was a renowned meeting-place. Closed down in 1998 and reopened in 2001, it preserves the glamour of its golden days. The Argentine Boxing Federation hall on