Retiro Neighborhood, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Retiro, situated in the Buenos Aires neighborhood, is a place where the Spanish immigrants lived. Its constructions are peculiar, especially, those which are located on Mayo Avenue. Its name comes from a mansion called Retiro that is situated located on San Martin square, the main green area of the zone.
Retiro is placed to the north, close to San Nicolas. It is surrounded by Eduardo Madero and Córdoba Avenues; as well as Uruguay and Montevideo Streets; and Ptes Ramón Castillo and Comodory Avenues.
The most important bus station of Buenos Aires is placed here, it offers different destinations. The bus routes are diverse and there are also three train stations.
Retiro is famous because it is the bridgehead of the unique port of Buenos Aires. There are cargo and passenger ships. The “Buquebus” has different coast destinations to Uruguay.

PLACES TO VISIT

Plaza de Mayo

It is located among Rivadavia Avenue, Bolívar, Balcarce and Hipólito Irigoyen
It is considered the most historic square of the zone. It was a witness of the most important demonstrations and national celebrations. In its surroundings, the “Casa Rosada” and the Cabildo are located.
The “Pirámide de Mayo” (pyramid) is a monument built in honor to the first Argentinean government of 1810. It is also located in the square.

SAN MARTIN PALACE

It is located in Arenales Nº 761
It is situated in front of San Martin square. It was designed by the architect Alejandro Cristophersen who finished it in 1909. Nowadays, it is the Ceremonial Chancellery see. Formerly, it was the house of the Anchorena´s family.
The San Martin palace is a national historic monument. Inside it, there are works of Argentinean and American artists of the XX century, as well as a pre-Columbian art collection of the Argentinean Chancellery and a library specialized in international law and international relations.

Government house

It is located between H. Irigoyen Nº 219 and Balcarce Nº 50

It is known as “Casa Rosada” because of its color. It is the official head office of the government of the Republic since the first Cabinet Meeting in 1810.
This construction possesses a museum and several exhibition rooms. It also has subterranean galleries (14 meters deep).
In front of the Mayo square, the guards of “Granaderos” are placed.

FLORIDA STREET

It is a pedestrian street since 1970. In 1880, it was populated by big residences by composing an important architectonic framework in the zone.
Florida is one of the most important shops of the city; it comprehends big stores, bookstores, clothing stores, jewelries, shoes stores, leather stores and others.

Metropolitan Cathedral

It is located between the Rivadavia and San Martín Avenues
This is the most important catholic temple of the city that was built in the XVIII century. It has a neoclassic style and inside it, the mortal remains of General San Martin are placed.
Its great architecture, history, richness and location make it an important tourist point, it is surrounded by national monuments like: The Cabildo, La Casa Rosada and “La Gran Plaza” which has been the preferred place for political celebrations.

Banco de la Nación Argentina (National Bank)

It is located between 25 de Mayo and Bartolomé Mitre.

It was founded the 18th of October, 1891. This building was the head office of the Colon Theatre. Nowadays, it is the head office of the Banco de La Nación. People can visit the historic museum and the Bustillo Gallery Art.

CIRCULO MILITAR (PALACIO PAZ - PALACE)

It is located in Santa Fe Nº 750
It is a mansion that was built by Jose Camilo Paz, it is also known as Paz Palace. It is the head office of the Circulo Militar. The building has three eaves and an internal garden. The entrance is located on San Martin Avenue. Nowadays, there are guided visits through this magnificent French style palace whose draft was done by Louis Sortaris and Carlos Agote.

El Cabildo

It is located in Bolívar Nº 65

Years ago, the public building was declared a national and historic monument. It was a meeting place for famous members of the community and the seat where the first assembly of May in 1810 was carried out.
Inside it, the “Museo Histórico Nacional del Cabildo y la Revolución de Mayo” is situated. This museum keeps weapon collections, medals and furniture.

MUSEO DE ARMAS DE LA NACION (Weapons Museum)

It is located between Santa Fe Nº 702 and Maipú
The museum contains many objects of different epochs and war collections. It is located in downtown. It was founded by the General in 1904. It is divided in 17 rooms which exhibit objects from colonial and actual times. The museum shows the history through weapons and its development since middle ages to the XX century.

Museo de la Ciudad (City museum)

It is located in Alsina Nº 412

It was created in 1968. It is the old part of the town. The museum preserves the Memory of Buenos Aires on its architecture and representative colonial objects. The objective of the museum is gathering the history of the region, the inhabitant’s life, the typical customs and the architecture. “La Estrella” pharmacy is located inside it; it keeps its original 1900 style, as well as its shelves and ancient paintings.

MUSEO DE LA INMIGRACIÓN (Immigration Museum)

It is located in Antártida Argentina Nº 1355
It is situated in the former Pavilion of the Immigrants Hotel which worked from1911 to 1953. It was built in order to offer services and accommodation to hundred of immigrants who arrived to the country. Today, the museum has a collection of immigration history documents since the last decades of the XIX century to the middles of the XX century.

RICCARDI JEWELLERY SHOP

It is located in Florida Nº 1001
This is a distinguished jewel shop. It is in charge to manufacture the stick for the Argentinean presidents. It was opened in 1925.

de Mayo Avenue

Originally, it was 14 blocks long, then, after the creation of the Congress Square, it was simplified to a block. This avenue was, and it also is, a place for politic demonstration and social marches.
Many buildings of the last decade of the XIX century can be appreciated along the avenue. It is a perfect place to have walks.

SAN MARTIN SQUARE

It is located among Santa Fe, Del Libertador Avenue, Florida and Crucero Belgrano

It is one of the oldest squares of the city, it dates back from the beginnings of the XIX century. Thanks to its exuberant vegetation, it is catalogued as one of the most beautiful natural places. It has varied trees and monuments such as the one in honor to San Martin and to Granaderos. It also has important sculptures like La Duda and Charles Cordier.

Café Tornoni

It is located on De Mayo Avenue Nº 825

It was founded in 1858. It is the oldest café in Argentina. It has been frequented by different great personalities. This is a place for visiting and enjoying a delicious coffee, snacks or some deserts.
Nowadays, in the evenings, there are tango shows and permanent art exhibitions.

BASILICA DEL SANTISIMO SACRAMENTO

It is located in San Martín Nº 1035
It was Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena, an aristocrat woman, who ordered the construction of this basilica. The work was finished in 1916 and it was designed by French architects.
The most important attractions are: the Custody built with gold and silver, a French management of 1912, important vitraux and marble ornamentals, blue granites, and bronze and Venetian mosaics.

National Congress

It is located between Entre Ríos and Rivadavia Avenues

It was declared a historic monument. It is the head office of the Senators and Members of the Parliament. It presents a Greco-Roman style. It was inaugurated in 1906 and it covers 9000 m2. Inside it, there is a great dome (65 meters high) on the top.

Plaza del Congreso (Square)

It is located between Ríos and Rivadavia Avenues
It is located in front of the Congress. It was created in 1910. It covers 3 blocks. It was inaugurated in commemoration to the May Revolution.
From there, it is possible to appreciate the building of the Congress and the Monument to the Congress.

KAVANAGH BUILDING

It is located in Florida Nº 1065
It is located close to the San Martin square. Corina Kavanagh was in charge of it in 1934. It was inaugurated in 1936; in that time, it was the highest building of South America and, in consequence, it won many national and international awards. It is said that it was built in order to hide the Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento and as a revenge against the Anchorena family.

RETIRO BUS STATION

It is located in Ramos Mejía Nº 1358
It is a local bus station which was inaugurated in 1915 according to the engineering and an English architects Project. Nowadays, it is the main bus station of the zone; it covers different destinations and many companies offer transportation services.

TORRE MONUMENTAL (DE LOS INGLESES - TOWER)

It is located in the Fuerza Aérea Argentina Square
It is located between the San Martin and Libertador Avenues, in the middle of the Britannia Square (Plaza Areonáutica Argentina). It was built by British residents in commemoration to the Centenary of the May Revolution. It was donated by them in 1916. The tower has a clock (4.5 meters size) with a-100 kilos-pendulum. Inside the tower, there is a historic and photography gallery. The tower changed its name to Monumental Tower after the Malvinas war in 1982; however, people continue calling it “Torre de los Ingleses” (English Tower).

TOTEM KWAKIUTIS

It is located in the Canadá Square
It is a wooden cedar post, 21 meters high, that was donated by the Canadian government in 1964. Its draws represent different totemic animals of the Kwakiutis Culture.

In a descendant order, it is possible to appreciate: the eagle, the sea lion, the marine otter, the whale, the beaver, the cannibal bird and the man.