Plaza de Mayo and its Surroundings

A Little History

The Plaza de Mayo is the oldest in Buenos Aires and has been the scene of almost all the most important political events in Argentine history, with the exception of Independence Day, which is celebrated in the province of Tucumán.

Its name is a tribute to the Revolution of May 25, 1810, which took place in this same square and was the origin of the country’s Independence feat. Like all sovereignty processes in America, Argentina was fighting for a form of government independent of the Spanish monarchy.

The Plaza de Mayo is also the site where Juan de Garay founded the City for the second time, on June 11, 1580, under the name “City of the Holy Trinity and Port of Santa María del Buen Ayre”. The small town grew around this square until it became the political centre of the country that it is nowadays.

As happens in all cities’ main squares, the Plaza de Mayo is surrounded by historical buildings: the Cabildo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government House, the City Government Palace, different banks and Ministries.

In 1890 the first massive political act was carried out with the founding of the Civic Union, (the political party that later became the current Radical Civic Union). This manifestation would mark the beginning of the current spirit of the Plaza de Mayo, as the scene of large social demonstrations. However, the consolidation of this space began in 1977 when the square became the meeting place for the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who claimed for their relatives who disappeared during the last military rule.

The square has also historically been the headquarters of national celebrations and commemorations: the celebration of the Bicentennial of the Republic, the homecoming of the National team after the World soccer championship and the farewell of Diego Armando Maradona in a massive funeral as well.

Most Representative Buildings

As we have already mentioned, the Plaza de Mayo is surrounded by imposing historical and government buildings, among which the following stand out:

Government House: located in the place where the city’s old fort was once settled, the Headquarters of the Executive Power of Argentina has a characteristic pink colour on its façade, which is why it is popularly known as Casa Rosada. Here is the famous balcony of Perón and Evita.

Buenos Aires Town Hall: erected in 1725, the former headquarters of the viceroyalty currently houses the Town Hall and the May Revolution National Historical Museum

Metropolitan Cathedral: Consecrated in 1836, the Metropolitan Cathedral features a striking neoclassical exterior and the interior of a Spanish colonial church. For more than 20 years, the current Pope Francis celebrated mass in this Cathedral.

Banco de la Nación Argentina: built between 1940 and 1955, is an imposing building covered by an impressive 50-meter-diameter vault.

Monuments of the Plaza de Mayo

In the square, you can see two important monuments. On the one hand, you’ll find the May Pyramid, which is 18 metres high and stands in the centre of the square to remember the revolutionary architects of the Independence of Argentina. It is the oldest national monument in Argentina and, according to historians, the tower was inaugurated on May 25 1811, to celebrate the centenary of the Revolution. The May Pyramid was restored in 1856 by the artist and architect Prilidiano Pueyrredón.

On the other hand, we can contemplate the Monument to General Manuel Belgrano. This equestrian statue of the national hero is a work made of bronze on a large granite pedestal, which pays tribute to the creator of the Argentine flag. It was inaugurated in 1873 and is a work of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (who made the general’s body) and Manuel de Santa Coloma. The memorial was erected out of “public gratitude”, that is, the population financed it with personal contributions.

Touring the Neighborhood

Very close to the Plaza de Mayo, there are many other points of interest, such as the legendary Café Tortoni and the Spanish Club (an exponent of eclectic architecture in America) along with the Don Quixote Monument, the work of the Andalusian sculptor Aurelio Teno. Nearby is the famous Teatro Avenida, inaugurated in 1908. The spot was originally conceived as an office building and was later one of the most exclusive hotels in Buenos Aires, The Majestic.

In addition, you can see the Hotel Chile, the work of the French architect Luis Dubois a great exponent of the art nouveau style. The art deco building used to be the former headquarters of the newspaper Diario Crítica, founded by the Uruguayan journalist Natalio Botana in 1913. Other nearby attractions are the Barolo Palace, La Inmobiliaria, (building complex of 1910, work of the Italian architect Luis Broggi) and the magnificent Congress of the Argentine Nation. 

Opposite you can see the Plaza del Congreso, which is part of a group of three squares located in the same area, next to Plaza Lorea and Plaza Mariano Moreno. The construction of these squares was an urban creation around the celebrations of the centenary of the May Revolution.

The Historic Center of the city is home to most of the buildings of Old Buenos Aires. It is Just a few blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, between the neighbourhoods of San Telmo and Montserrat. Among the most notable we can mention the Monument to Julio A. Roca, president of the Nation during two terms who is known for having commanded the military campaign known as “The Conquest of the Desert.” 

There are other must-sees around Plaza de Mayo; the Palace of the Legislature and the famous Manzana de las Luces, a historic space in the city that is located along Bolívar, Moreno, Alsina, Julio A. Roca and Perú streets. The National College of Buenos Aires, the Church of San Ignacio, the former venue of the University of Buenos Aires and other historical buildings are located here.

Avenida de Mayo, which connects the Casa Rosada with the National Congress and is home to the historic Plaza de Mayo, is one of the oldest and most important avenues in the city, with distinctively Madridelean architecture.

Walking through it, you can appreciate the Roverano Passage, built in 1878, the city’s House of Culture (formerly La Prensa newspaper), the Vera Palace (art nouveau building built in 1910, with its curved lines and bevelled glass), the Urquiza Anchorena and the National Academy of Tango, created in 1990 and chaired by the poet and lyricist Horacio Ferrer.

Other points of interest are the traditional Café El Querandí, the Ávila bookstore (former College Bookstore), the City Museum, the Juan B. Ambrosetti Ethnographic Museum, the House of María Josefa Ezcurra (sister-in-law of Juan Manuel de Rosas, Governor de Buenos Aires from 1829 to 1832 and from 1835 to 1852), the notable bar La Puerto Rico (founded in 1887) and Farmacia La Estrella (one most antiques still preserving its original furniture and murals).

Los Altos de Elorriaga, one of the first buildings in the city to have two floors and the oldest of this type that is still preserved, is also a good option to visit along with the Plaza Defensa Cultural Center, which depends on the City Government and where various cultural activities of music, theatre, cinema and dance take place. Likewise, the Noccetti House (former Hirsch Hardware Store) is a must-see on the tour, since it is the typical exponent of industrial architecture from the late 19th century, made almost entirely of iron, in addition to being the headquarters of the National Library and the former Mint.

We recommend that you also take the time to visit the San Francisco Square, the San Francisco Church and Convent, and the San Roque Chapel, whose order was the first to be established in the city of Buenos Aires.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Convent of Santo Domingo should also be part of the tour.

To end your visit around the Plaza de Mayo, you can take a walk through the Casa del Virrey Liniers, home of the penultimate Viceroy of the Río de la Plata, where the terms of the capitulation of the English General William Beresford were discussed, after the invasion in 1806.

Curiosities

Shortly after the May Revolution, bullfights were held in this historic square. It was in 1822 when Governor Martin Rodríguez prohibited this type of demonstration. Thanks to “Animal Protection Law” number 2786 (known as the “Sarmiento Law”) of July 25, 1891, Argentina was the first country in Latin America to prohibit the practice.

Near the Plaza de Mayo, more specifically in the vacant lot next to the Cathedral, there was a place known as the “Hueco de las Ánimas” The inhabitants of the City were afraid to get close due to the urban myth that says spirits roamed there. By the mid-19th century, Teatro Colón was inaugurated in 1857, on the lands that used to be a wasteland spot.

Location

The Plaza de Mayo is located in the heart of the city town surrounded by Rivadavia Avenue and Balcarce, Hipólito Yirigoyen, and Bolívar Street.

This is a significant tour to take if you are visiting Buenos Aires, to understand its political and social heritage. Its architectural beauty and the stories that each building keeps will allow you to immerse yourself in Buenos Aires’ life.