Inspired by Madrid’s Gran Vía, Avenida de Mayo (May Avenue) is the historic center of Buenos Aires.  Much of the architecture and urban detail along this avenue are of the art nouveau or neoclassical style.  Avenida de Mayo was designed by Italian architect and engineer, Juan Antonio Buschiazzo and was constructed during 1885 to 1894.  In 1937 two blocks of Avenida de Mayo were demolished for the construction of the then largest avenue in the world (with 16 lanes of traffic!), Avenida 9 de Julio.  Avenida de Mayo was later declared a National Historic Site in 1994 to prevent further demolition and to keep the integrity of the buildings intact.

We began our tour at the easternmost part of the avenue, at the Plaza de Mayo .  The origins of Plaza de Mayo can be traced back to the second founding of Buenos Aires in 1850.  It is a plaza rich in history and a place where protests and political demonstrations still take place today.  The Plaza is surrounded by some of Buenos Aires’ most significant landmarks, including Casa Rosada, the Cabildo, Catedral Metropolitana, and the Banco de la Nación Argentina.  The Pirámide de Mayo lies at the center of the plaza.

The oldest national monument in Buenos Aires, Pirámide de Mayo was constructed in 1811 to celebrate the first anniversary of the May Revolution.

La Casa Rosada is the official presidential residence and seat of the executive branch.  From the main balcony, several historical figures (including Eva Perón and Pope John Paul II) have addressed the public.  To learn more about the government of Argentina, click here.  It is said that La Casa Rosada was painted pink to diffuse political tension by mixing the red and white colors of the country’s opposing political parties.  Situated on the east side of  Casa Rosada is a gift from the local Italian community, the Monument of Columbus.  It was built in 1921 by sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi.

The Cabildo was built in 1610 to serve as city hall during the colonial era.  It has undergone many changes over it’s lifetime and now houses the National Museum of the Cabildo and the May Revolution.

Like most of the historical structures in Buenos Aires, Catedral Metropolitana has undergone many alterations, additions and reconstructions during it’s lifetime.  It came from modest beginnings during the 16th century, a wood and adobe structure, that was replaced and later rebuilt three more times due to use of poor materials and structural instability.   In 1752 the nave collapsed, leaving only  the façade and towers standing.  The majority of the building had to be rebuilt once again.  The building that stands today is a testament to it’s history, with a mix of architecture that includes an 18th century nave and dome, a 19th century Neoclassical façade and an interior of Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque decoration.  The mausoleum of General San Martín rests inside the Cathedral and is guarded by three female life-size statues that represent Argentina, Chile and Peru, three of the regions freed by the General.

Banco de la Nación Argentina designed in 1939 by Argentine architect Alejandro Bustillo.  The National Bank is such a beautiful example of Classical architecture in Buenos Aires.

Continuing down Avenida de Mayo, we stopped at Confitería del Molino, Plaza del Congreso and finished up at El Congreso.

Confitería del Molino is a beautiful Art Noveau style building that was designed by Italian architect Francisco Gianotti in 1917 .  Unfortunately, it is now abandoned and sits empty except for rare public openings for the purpose of getting word out on the urgent need to restore the building. In 1997, Confitería del Molino was declared a National Historic Monument.

The tour ended at Plaza del Congreso and El Congreso, the Argentine National Congress Building.  Inaugurated in 1910, Plaza del Congress was designed by French-Argentine landscape architect Charles Thays.  With a political importance similar to that of Plaza de Mayo (and a size equal to three city blocks), Plaza del Congress is stage to many protests and demonstrations by the people of Argentina.  Within this plaza are three main points of interest:  the Cero Kilometer monolith (from which all distances are measured leaving Buenos Aires), Argentine’s own copy of El Pensador (The Thinker) and El Monumento a los dos Congresos which was completed in 1908.   The features of this monument represent many things, from the huge granite stairs paying tribute to the Andes Mountains, the fountain symbolizing the Atlantic Ocean to the figure that rests at the top represents the republic.  The Congress building was designed by Italian architect Vittorio Meano and Argentine architect Julio Dormal.  Lola Mora, a local sculptor, created the bronze sculptures that adorn the exterior and interior of the building.  Though the building was inaugurated in 1906, it’s details were not completed until 1946.

Though the tour was finished, we had one last important stop to make.  Coffee!  We sipped on cortados and snacked on medialunas at the oldest coffee shop in all of Argentina.  Café Tortoni was founded in 1858 and has history so rich it could be a museum.  This cafe has been host to such intellects and artists as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio de Caro, José Gobello and Cátulo Castillo.  And yes, the coffee was good!

Just some miscellaneous photos from this area…

View the entire photo gallery here:  A Tour of Avenida de Mayo

Resources:

• Argentina Travel Guide
• Café Tortoni
• Frommer’s Guide
• National Geographic
• Wikipedia:  Buenos Aires