Monserrat (Casco Histórico)

1. Plaza de Mayo
Balcarce, Rivadavia, Bolívar, Hipólito Yrigoyen

Juan de Garay founded Buenos Aires city for the second time in 1580. At this time, he also decided the location of the Plaza Mayor, current Plaza de Mayo.
In 1810, it was the scenario for the May Revolution, a political milestone to start Argentine independence. In 1816, the independence declaration was sworn. In 1860, the National Constitution was enacted. During the military dictatorial government, since 1977, it has been the place where Madres de Plaza de Mayo meet to claim for ‘their’ people missing during the military government. Today, this square still concentrates all social demonstrations.
At present, in the center of the square, we can admire the Pyramid of May, monument erected to commemorate the first anniversary of the May Revolution of 1810.

2. Government House or Pink House
Balcarce 50

The building, in its current location, has always been the national government\\\'s headquarters from the Primera Junta of 1810 to date, but the current building was finished in 1884. President Sarmiento (1868-1874) decided to paint the building a pink color.
On Rivadavia street, you can see the access esplanade the president takes to enter the House. At the back of the house, you can observe remains of the old Customs office. On Yrigoyen street, you can access to the Museum of the Pink House.

3. Metropolitan Cathedral
Intersection of Rivadavia and San Martín avenues

In 1692, construction of the first cathedral was carried out on this same plot. In 1822 , the current building was finished, after a century and a half of several architectural works. Inside the cathedral, you can observe pictures and sculptures, mainly made by Italian artists.
You may access the mausoleum where General Jose de San Martin remains are. He has been a hero of our independence.

4. Cabildo
Bolívar 65

During colony times, the Cabildo was the institution which represented the local interests. The construction of the current building began in the 18th century. Along the years, the Cabildo suffered successive architectural modifications.
In 1810, the building held the events which would give rise to the Primera Junta de Gobierno and later to the declaration of independence.
This building is currently a Museum of the Cabildo and of the May Revolution.

5. Julio Argentino Roca Monument
Intersection of Diagonal Sur and Perú

Inaugurated in 1941. From its marble-covered base, two big figures stand out. They represent our homeland and the work. An equestrian bronze figure crowns the monument. Sculptor José Zorrilla de San Martin was its author. Julio Argentino Roca (1843-1914) participated in the battles of Cepeda and Pavón, and in the war of Paraguay. He was Minister of War during Avellaneda`s administration. During his office he promoted and led the Campaign to the Desert. He was President of the Argentine Republic for two terms (1880-1886 and 1898-1904).

6. Block of the Lights ( Apple ) San Ignacio Church Nacional Buenos Aires School
Alsina, Bolívar, Moreno, Perú

In this area, the Jesuit Order settled in 1633. After their expulsion, in 1767, these buildings seated the University of Buenos Aires and the National Congress. The architectural group presents strange tunnels built during the18th century to connect it with other buildings of the surroundings.

San Ignacio Church
The construction of this church started in 1686. It is the oldest in the city. It was the most important Jesuit temple.

Nacional Buenos Aires School
It is one of the most prestigious secondary school in the country. It dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, although it has held the current name since 1863.

7. Ávila Bookshop
Alsina 500

In 1785, the first bookshop in the city was inaugurated at this corner. In 1830, it became exclusively a bookshop. Today is one of the intellectual centers in the city. Current Ávila bookshop is the only shop in the city which has kept the location and field of business from colonial times to date.

8. House of Maria Josefa Ezcurra
Alsina 455

This house was built in 1836. The composition of the facade evidences the influences of the Italian Renaissance. Its two-panel door maintains the structure of boards used in colonial times. Ground floor was dedicated to trade and the top floor to housing. María Josefa Ezcurra was sister-in-law to Juan Manuel de Rosas, governor of Buenos Aires in the middle of the 19th century and one of the most controversial characters of our national history.

9. La Puerto Rico Café
Alsina 420

Inaugurated in 1887, it was officially declared as a ‘Notable Café’ by the City Legislature. The black-granite façade shows large windows which let you see marvelous woodworks. You can also enjoy here tango shows.

10. Altos de Elorriaga
Intersection of Defensa and Alsina streets

This house is one of the pioneers of storied houses built in the city. The rooms surround a big internal patio. The windowed balcony is still preserved so that you can admire the river sight. The facade is plain and whitewashed. Fenced balconies can be seen on the first floor.

11. Museum of the City / Pharmacy La Estrella
Intersection of Alsina and Defensa streets

The ground floor has been the seat for the pharmacy La Estrella since 1834. You can see ceilings decorated by the Italian Parisi and Italian walnut bookcases. On the first floor, a museum exhibits artefacts which reveal to people the daily aspects of the old Buenos Aires.

12. Church and Convent of San Francisco / San Roque Chapel
Intersection of Alsina and Defensa streets

Building started towards 1730, by Andrea Bianchi. It was inaugurated in 1754. At the beginning of the 20th century, the German architect Sackman remodelled the facade, endowing it with the German Baroque style it has today. The front is crowned by sculptures representing San Francisco de Assis, Giotto, Dante Alighieri and Cristóbal Colon. Part of the interior decoration and the biggest altarpiece were destroyed by the fire of 1955. In order to repair damages, one of the biggest tapestries in the world (8 x 12 meters) was placed on the main altar. The atrium is shared by the chapel of San Roque which opens every 16th day of the month when Religious Patron’s holiday is celebrated. Polychrome wooden images from the 18th century stand out in its interior.

13. San Francisco Small Square
Intersection of Alsina and Defensa streets

When strolling along this small square, you come across the beautiful images representing the Astronomy, the Industry, the Geography and the Sailing which formerly surrounded the Pyramid of May. The small square was developed due to the need of extending the atrium of the church, since too many people attended its services.

14. El Colonial Café
Intersection of Moreno and Defensa streets

This building still keeps some bricks from the colonial time, made with mud and oven-dried straw.

15. Ethnographical Museum Juan B. Ambrosetti
Moreno 340

You can admire here the most complete ethnographical and anthropological collection in the country. Items from cultures Condorhuasi, Ona, Tehuelche, Guarani and Toba are exhibited there. The building, designed by architect Pedro Benoît, dates back from 1880.

16. House of President Rivadavia
Defensa 350

Bernardino Rivadavia was born in this house, in 1780. He was the first Argentine president, elected in 1826. It holds a colonial style, of plain façade. We can still observe the cover to protect from dust on the windows and the superior cornice.

17. House of Defense / National Museum of Engraving
Defensa 372

Originally a barrack for leathers deposit. The Museum exhibits an extensive collection of items from engravers of last and contemporary centuries.

18. Nuestra Señora del Rosario Basilica / Santo Domingo Convent
Intersection of Belgrano and Defensa

The construction of the church began in 1752. It was partially inaugurated in 1773. Santo Domingo is one of the churches which best preserves original lines, having the Jesuit ground floor of three aisles and rather hollow lateral chapels. I t holds the remains of General Belgrano, a statistician of the 19th century.

19. Manuel Belgrano Premises/ Calmer Building
Belgrano avenue between Defensa and Bolívar streets

These premises were Manuel Belgrano’s house. Here he was born in 1770 and died in 1820.

20. Liniers’ House
Venezuela 469

The façade and some few walls still remain from the original construction. Its first owner was Martin Simón de Sarratea, father-in-law to Santiago de Liniers and penultimate Viceroy of the River Plate. Here, capitulation of the English General Beresford took place, after one of the failed English Invasions.

21. Former House of Currency Stamping
Intersection of Defensa and México streets

This place was successively occupied by diverse institutions: the Hospital of the King, the Partida Celadora Headquarters and the ‘Lions Body’ of the Police. In 1775, the state authorities ruled over a monetary unit -the peso fuerte, and they thus created the House of Currency Stamping. There, the bills, fiscal values and postal seals were printed.
This first house of the Currency, designed by engineer E. Costilla, was inaugurated in 1881 and operated up to 1944. It is an Italian-style building, of symmetrical ground floor, with a central patio. Its iron-and-brick-made structure is surrounded by a green space and limited by a fence of pillars and ornamental grills. In 1914, another building on Balcarce Street was annexed to it. It currently belongs to the Argentine Army.

22. José Hernández’s House
México 524

It is a typical house of the 19th century. It belonged to the author of the gaucho-related literature work called Martín Fierro. Today, the Argentine Society of Writers operates here.

23. Former National Library
México 560

This building dates back from 1901, and was constructed to be the headquarters of the National Lottery. It was given to the National Library before it was finished. Designed by the Italian architect Carlos Morra, it is a clear representative of the architecture of the Beaux Arts, sober and monumental. In 1992, the library moved to its current building located at the intersection of Austria street and Libertador avenue.