See Milei's Transformation of Argentina First-Hand

THE SUGGESTION THAT Argentina could be the home of a self-described libertarian president would have seemed far-fetched, to say the least, only a few years ago. Yet today Javier Milei's Buenos Aires is the city where libertarian history is happening.

- MARCOS FALCONE

Buenos Aires wasn’t obviously destined to become a beacon of liberty. The city was abandoned not long after the Spanish founded it in 1536. Only after its resettlement in 1580 did the city slowly develop, but not until the 18th century would it flourish as a trade center.

Many downtown sites from the colonial era are worth visiting. As in the United States, the war that led to Argentina's independence started as a protest over free trade—the locals favored it but the Spanish Empire didn’t. On May 25, 1810, local representatives met at the Cabildo, right in front of what is today known as Plaza de Mayo, and secured self-government for the first time in Argentina's history.

Casa Rosada (the Pink House), where the Argentine president and his ministers work, is also located on Plaza de Mayo but on the opposite side of the Cabildo. There's a museum, and tours are also available. Visitors to the north side of Casa Rosada might, if lucky, see Milei or some of his ministers as they enter or exit the building.