Things to do in Buenos Aires
The most impressive historical sites in Buenos Aires are to be found around the Plaza de Mayo, although you'll find attractions of interest in other neighbourhoods such as San Telmo and La Boca as well. Walking around the riverfront area of Puerto Madero and spending some leisurely time in the plazas and cafés of Recoleta and Palermo are both rewarding activities. If you tire of walking, there's good public transportation to take you on to the next neighbourhood, or back to your hotel.
Plaza de Mayo
The Plaza de Mayo dates to 1580. The prominent buildings around the plaza represent the architectural styles of the dominant periods in the city's development. The Old City Hall (Cabildo) and the Metropolitan Cathedral arose during the colonial period (in the 18th and early 19th centuries); while the Pyramid of May (Pirámide de Mayo) and the government buildings reflect the styles of the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the centre of the plaza, there are palm trees, benches and fountains, and the area is quite busy at lunchtime, when local workers often eat their lunch here. The plaza remains Buenos Aires' political heart and is the site of protests and demonstrations.
La Casa Rosada
The Casa Rosada (literally, ‘pink house') is the official Buenos Aires residence of the president of the Republic of Argentina. It was designed by Don Juan de Garay and built in 1580, although it has been remodelled many times in the years since. The building that we see today is actually a union of two twin constructions. Its pink colour was added in 1873, chosen by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, and it has never been changed since that time. The Casa Rosada houses a museum, which is open to the public, exhibiting items that belonged to each of Argentina's presidents.
Cabildo
The Cabildo was built 1751, in the colonial style, to house the city government that had been established by the Spanish. In the late 1800s, parts of the building were demolished to create enough land on which to build the avenida de Mayo and Diagonal Sur. It underwent restoration in 1939, and now houses a small museum with displays of colonial period paintings and furniture. From its windows, you'll have excellent views of the Plaza de Mayo. Many people come here to watch the hourly Changing of the Guard; and on Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 to 18:00, there is a crafts fair on the patio at the rear.
Casa de Cultura and Palacio de Gobierno
Although these are two separate buildings, there are tours that will take you through both. The Palacio de Gobierno, a white neo-classical building fronting the Plaza de Mayo, is situated on the corner of Rivadavia and San MartÃn. It is the New City Hall, and houses the office of the city's mayor. The original construction began in 1891 and continued for a number of years.
The adjoining Casa de Cultura is a lavish building of grey granite, featuring bronze ornamentation and a series of lanterns along its façade, which faces the avenida de Mayo. This is the former home of La Prensa, at one time the most important newspaper in Argentina. At the top of the Casa de Cultura you'll see a statue representing freedom of the press (although this freedom was commonly suppressed here under many military regimes).
In the interior, the most impressive of its rooms is the Salón Dorado, which is in the French neo-classical style, featuring ornately painted ceilings, gilded columns and a stage for performances. The city's Office of Culture now has its headquarters here.
