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Plaza de Mayo: the heart of the city

The most famous square in Buenos Aires is the Plaza de Mayo. This is not only the heart of the city but also the political heart of Argentina: protests take place here every week. One of the most famous demonstrations is the one by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. The square is framed by monumental buildings of great cultural, historic and political importance.

The name Plaza de Mayo (May Square) refers to the date that Argentina became independent from Spain on 25 May 1810. The stately white pillar in the middle of the square, the Pirámide de Mayo, is a monument that marks this important day. The monument is surrounded by gardens and footpaths, perfect for a romantic stroll, especially at night when the area is beautifully illuminated.

The Pirámide de Mayo
The Pirámide de Mayo

Buenos Aires

The Casa Rosada

One of the attractions on the Plaza de Mayo is the Casa Rosada (the pink house). The salmon-coloured building occupies the entire east side of the square. This is the centre of presidential power in Argentina. The Casa Rosada is especially famous for Evita Perón’s balcony scenes in the late 1940s. Beloved by the people, the First Lady would address the crowds from the stately balcony. Madonna sang the hit 'Don't cry for me Argentina' on this very balcony when filming a scene for the movie 'Evita' (1996), which tells the life story of this extraordinary woman.

Join one of the free Casa Rosada tours on weekends and stand on this famous balcony yourself. The tour takes about an hour and visits the President’s Office, the Salón Blanco (the white room) and the Palm tree patio. The icing on the cake will be your own balcony scene with a great view of the Plaza de Mayo.
The Casa Rosada
The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo

The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo

Every Thursday afternoon around 3:30 pm, the Madres de Plaza de Mayo walk around on the square. This group of Argentine mothers has been coming here together since 1977 to protest the disappearance of their children under the dictatorship of the military junta that ruled the country from 1976 to 1983. Wearing white headscarves, the mothers walk in silence around the Pirámide to call attention to the unsolved disappearance of their children.

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