Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Separating Congreso from the Microcentro is Av 9 de Julio, 'the widest street in the
world!,' as proud
porteños
love to boast. While this may be true - it's 16 lanes at its
widest - the neighbouring streets Cerrito and Carlos Pellegrini make it look even broad-
er.
Teatro Colón
NOTABLE BUILDING
( 4378-7127;
www.teatrocolon.org.ar
; Tucumán 1171; tours AR$110; tours 9am-5pm)
This
gorgeous and impressive seven-story building is one of BA's most prominent landmarks.
It's the city's main performing-arts venue and the only facility of its kind in the country,
a world-class forum for opera, ballet and classical music with astounding acoustics. Oc-
cupying an entire city block, the Colón can seat 2500 spectators and provide standing
room for another 500. The theater's opening night was a presentation of Verdi's
Aïda,
and visitors have been wowed ever since. Worthwhile backstage tours run frequently.
Plaza del Congreso
PLAZA
( 4010-3000, ext 2410; tours 12:30pm & 5pm Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri)
At the western end of
Av de Mayo lies Plaza del Congreso, often dotted with cooing pigeons and families feed-
ing them. The
Monumento a los Dos Congresos
honors the congresses of 1810 in
Buenos Aires and 1816 in Tucumán, both of which led to Argentine independence. The
enormous granite steps symbolize the high Andes, and the fountain at its base represents
the Atlantic Ocean.
West of the plaza is the colossal green-domed
Palacio del Congreso
(Congress build-
ing). Modeled on the Capitol in Washington, DC, and topped by an 85m dome, the
palace was completed in 1906. Free guided tours are offered in English and Spanish. Go
to the entrance at Hipólito Yrigoyen, 1849; bring photo ID.
Palacio Barolo
NOTABLE BUILDING
( 4381-1885;
www.palaciobarolo.com
;
Av de Mayo 1370; standard tours AR$80, longer tours incl
glass of wine AR$150; standard tours 4-7pm Mon-Thu, longer tours 8pm Wed & Fri & 8:30pm
Thu)
One of the Congreso area's most striking buildings is this 22-story concrete edifice.
The building's unique design was inspired by Dante's
Divine Comedy
; its height (100m)
is a reference to each canto (or song), the number of its floors (22) to verses per song,
and its divided structure to hell, purgatory and heaven.
