There are many monuments and landmarks in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the Plaza de Mayo is undoubtedly home to some of the most important. The heart of the city since 1661 and in its current form since 1884, here are the 5 most important sights that will be highlighted as en elements of a private walking tour through Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital.
A private Buenos Aires walking tour is the perfect manner of getting to know the city’s highlights as well as the local places and knowhow about the nowadays live in this bustling city and its interesting history. Your local tour guide will take your around their favorite city for a day, and can be seen as your local friend! Ask them anything you’d like to know about this intriguing city.
Be prepared to find a very busy historical and financial center, while making your way to the famous Plaza de Mayo, the first stop of your private city tour. Here you will learn more about Argentina’s history, think about Eva Peron, but also of all of protests that have and do still take place at this famous square. It’s not just the square that is famous, it are probably the buildings that surround Plaza de Mayo that gave the square its importance. Let’s highlight 5 of the most important buildings that surround the square:
Casa Rosada
The “pink house” is based on the remaining annex of the former demolished city fortress from 1713 and underwent many extensions and modifications during the 19th century before getting its not so subtle paint of coat in 1882 under president Sarmiento, supposedly to merge the red and white colors of the two main opposing political parties. It’s been the work palace of the Argentine president ever since independence.
Casa Rosada
Piramide de Mayo
Put up to commemorate the newly independent “Provinces of the Rio de la Plata” in 1811, it’s the oldest surviving monument in the city of Buenos Aires.
Banco de La Nacion
Built between 1940 and 1955, the headquarters of the biggest bank in Argentina also houses an art gallery and a numismatic museum which are both open to the public.
Cabildo
The Cabildo was the original seat of the city government and dates back to 1610, making it one of the oldest buildings in the city. Though half of it was destroyed on purpose in the early 20th century to make room for the new Avenida de Mayo, in 1940 the remaining half was reconstructed with its original colonial features.
Catedral
The Roman temple you seen on the corner of the Plaza de Mayo is actually the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires. Rebuilt several times since its humble origins in the 16th century, the present building is a mix of architectural styles. The interior has more to offer with impressive statues and silver altars. It’s also the final resting place of Argentina’s national hero Jose de San Martin, better known as El Libertador, and certainly an important stop during a private walking tour of Buenos Aires.
Class Adventure Travel includes a private Buenos Aires tour to all of their Argentina and South America tours that include a couple of days in the ‘Paris of South America’.
Image credits: Flickr longhorndave
