Argentina considers itself the most European of South American countries, and with good reason. The Argentineans are highly cultivated people with a strong connection to the old world; their achievements in design, filmmaking, literature, music, and art place them firmly in today s global culture spotlight. When it comes to decorating, they have a great talent for bringing together the old and the new, with subtle touches of color and rich textiles, and incorporating the country s beautiful landscapes in their architectural palette. Editor Angelika Taschen invites readers to pore over this selection of houses, apartments, ranches, polo grounds, and more, including an opulent century-old opera house where Maria Callas sang as well as the homes of Francis Mallmann, the country s most famous chef, Xul Solar, painter and close friend of the great Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges, and Juan Gatti, graphic designer for Pedro Almodóvar.