Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

PLAZA DE M A Y O AND MICROCENTRO  75

r Plaza del
Congreso
Hipólito Yrigoyen. City Map 2 C5.
 Congreso. Palacio del Congreso:
Tel (011) 4010-3000 (ext. 3885).
Open for guided tours only, in
English 11am & 5pm Mon–Fri.
∑ congreso.gov.ar
Argentina’s government is
modeled on the bicameral
system of the US, and the
domed Palacio del Congreso
shares its architecture with the
white Greco-Roman Congress
structure in Washington, DC.
One of the last buildings of this
type to be erected in Buenos Inside the Cámara del Senado (Senate) of the Palacio del Congreso
Aires before the strong wave
of fashionable Francophile for presidents lying in state. famous and revered Argentinian
architecture took over, the Out on the plaza, the exuberant thinker, lawyer, and journalist,
Congreso (as most porteños call centerpiece is the Monumento who was also one of the leading
the building) is a solid-looking a los Dos Congresos, built lights in the Revolución de
granite-and-marble guardian of to commemo rate the first Mayo of 1810 (see p55).
Plaza del Congreso to its east. constitutional assembly of 1813 Surrounding the Plaza del
Inaugu rated in 1906 and and the Congress of 1816. This Congreso is a scattering of
designed by Vittorio Meano, imposing statue of the Republic interesting buildings, many of
who was also the architect of waves a sym bolic laurel branch which evoke a more luxu rious
the Teatro Colón, the building and leans on a plow; below and wealthier past for porteños.
is situated to face the Casa it are two female figures One of the grand est, though
Rosada at the other end of performing the patriotic duties gradually falling into disrepair, is
the Avenida de Mayo, a of bearing the national arms the Confitería Molino (Windmill
symbolic reminder that power and breaking the chains Café), named for the decorative
does not only belong to of enslavement. windmill adorning its façade.
presidents but also to the On the smaller plaza to the Crowds of politicians used to
people of the country. Inside east is the far calmer figure of drink their morning coffee here.
the Congreso is a library and Rodin’s Thinker, one of the two The impressive Edificio de la
several lavish salons, including copies in the Americas, Inmobiliaria, at the far eastern
the famous Salón Azúl (Blue who sits beneath the end of the plaza, adds an Italian
Room), with its colossal shade of the leafy and Oriental dash to the eclectic
allegorical statues and an jacaranda, tipa, and archi tecture of the barrio.
impressive 4,400 lb (2,000 kg) ceibo trees; close After the Plaza de Mayo,
bronze chandelier beneath the by is a statue of the Plaza del Congreso, apart
main cupola. The room has Mariano Moreno from being a popular tourist
been used over the years (1788–1811), a spot, is one of the regular
meeting places for protesters,
student political parties,
striking unions, and, as the
evidence suggests, innovative
graffiti artists.

The imposing pillared façade and dome of the Palacio del Congreso

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