Uncovering the Past: Buenos Aires museum explores centuries-old tunnels under city

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02:51

Today, May 18th, marks the International Museum Day. The annual celebration began more than 40 years ago, and aims to highlight the cultural significance of museums. CGTN's Joel Richards takes us to the El Zanjon Museum, to see the past of Buenos Aires.

JORGE ECKSTEIN EL ZANJON MUSEUM "This was the first sector that was uncovered, from 1985 to 2001. First we had finished up to 1996, in 1996 we discovered what was behind this wall."

In these long dark tunnels are centuries of history. The owner, Jorge Eckstein, has dedicated the last 33 years of his life to this project - one of the most visited museums in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires.

JORGE ECKSTEIN EL ZANJON MUSEUM "When you come here in the 21st century we go back to the 15th, history and story are the same thing, because the stories we tell you happen to be the true history of this place."

This is one man's vision - a personal project. Eckstein bought a dilapidated property in the old quarter of Buenos Aires with the idea of opening a restaurant. As restoration work began on the property, he discovered a series of underground tunnels - dating back to early settlements in the city.

JORGE ECKSTEIN EL ZANJON MUSEUM "That is what it is this project today: conciliation. It is a conciliation between the past, the present and future, the integration of three things at the same time a conciliation between culture and a commercial project."

The private museum is in the heart of Buenos Aires, near another underground museum that tells not only the history of the city, but the history of Argentina.

LUCIANO DE PRIVITELLIO DIRECTOR, BICENTENARY MUSEUM "This is a museum on archaeological remains of a customs building built in Buenos Aires in the decades of the 1850s. It is the oldest ruins of a civilian building in the city."

Sitting under the government house, Argentina's bicentenary museum tells the nation's story. It is also home to a mural by the Mexican painter David Siqueiros. But it tells the story of Argentina's presidents museum and as such is the subject of debate and controversy.

LUCIANO DE PRIVITELLIO DIRECTOR, BICENTENARY MUSEUM "It is hard to write a script, not that is neutral - that doesn't exist, but which is politically broad and diverse, because history is part of the political debate in a very profound way and it is complicated."

Buenos Aires attracts visitors for its food, wine, tango and football, but visitors and locals alike can also delve deep into two very different yet compelling underground museums. Joel Richards, CGTN, Buenos Aires.