Buenos Aires newest tour offering doesn't pass by the traditional and popular tourist sites, instead skipping them over to visit sites related to the newly appointed pope, according to International Business Times.
The "Papa Tour of Buenos Aires" stops at the childhood home of Jorge Bergoglio, Herminia Brumana Square, where he played soccer and the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, the school he attended. The tour visits a total of 21 sites over the course of a three-hour bus ride, mainly in the Flores neighborhood, where Bergoglio was born. There is also a "Papal Circuit" tour that stops at 24 sites.
"We believe that those who make this journey will find not only a story of life, but also teachings and values that will form the impetus to continue to build a better society every day," reads the tour description written by the ministry.
The Tourism Ministry of Argentina is offering the tours. They had anticipated taking less than 100 people a week and have found themselves overwhelmed by the wildly popular tours that more than 5,000 people have already signed up to attend, forcing them to adjust their schedule to accommodate the demand. The tours are currently scheduled to run through December 30.
In addition to the bus tours, the government will also run two Pope Francis walking tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One will go through Flores and the other through the Plaza de Mayo.
Approximately three-quarters of the 41 million people in Argentina identify as Roman-Catholic, and since Bergoglio ascended to the papal position, religious fervor in the country has grown, increasing domestic visitors to the city.
Buenos Aires saw 2.5 million foreign tourists in 2012, and the city is expecting a record year in 2013, with the added interest of people from neighboring Latin American nations that are interested in learning more about the first pope from the Americas.
Anyone can show up and join the walking tours, but for the "Papa Tour of Buenos Aires," visitors should e-mail circuitpapal@buenosaires.gob.ar to make reservations.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
