Page 78 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

76  BUENOS AIRES AREA B Y AREA

t Avenida 9 de
Julio and Obelisco
City Map 3 D4.  Carlos Pellegrini,
9 de Julio. @ 39, 59, 67.
This 460-ft- (140-m-) wide
thoroughfare runs half a mile
to the west of the Río de la Plata
waterfront and has six lanes in
each direction. It was blasted
through the center of the city
in the 1930s, creating a fitting
backdrop for the towering
223-ft (68-m) Obelisco that
stands at the intersection with
Avenida Corrientes.
The magnificent Obelisco Display of costumes at Museo del Instituto Nacional de Estudios de Teatro
was designed by Argentinian
architect Alberto Prebisch and Israelita de la Argentina (CIRA), menorahs, manuscripts, and
was erected in 1936. Each of a community organization letters, including one sent by
the monument’s four faces created by a group of German, Albert Einstein in 1925 to the
illustrates an impor tant event French, and British Jews in Argentinian Jews.
in Argentina’s history: 1862. The imposing
the first founda tion of archi tecture of the i Teatro Nacional
Buenos Aires in 1536; the building copies the
second, more successful, Byzantine-influenced style Cervantes
foundation in 1580; the of 19th-century German Libertad 815. City Map 3 D4.
creation of the federal syna gogues. It is still very Tel (011) 4815-8883.  Tribunales.
capital in 1880; and the first much a working temple, @ 29, 39. Open Feb−Dec:
hoisting of the national and daily services as well 10am−9pm Wed−Sun. Closed Jan.
flag in San Nicolás church, as regular bar mitzvahs 8 2pm Tue (Spanish only). ∑ teatro
which once stood at the and marriage ceremonies cervantes.gov.ar Museo del Instituto
same spot. The monument are held here. The tem ple Nacional de Estudios de Teatro:
is one of the main icons Old Torah at also houses, in its Tel (011) 4815-8885 (ext. 179).
of the city and a venue Museo Judío administrative office, the Open noon–6pm Mon–Fri.
for cultural activities. It also Museo Judío de Buenos 8 same as the theater. -
serves as a gathering spot for Aires Dr. Salvador Kibrick,
sports fans celebrating a win which is named after the The only “national” theater to
by their favorite team. museum’s founder. The displays bear that name in the coun try,
tell the story of the arrival and the Teatro Nacional Cervantes
settlement of Argentina’s sizable was once a grand structure.
y Teatro Colón Jewish community through Heavy traffic and pollution has
paintings, religious art, and discolored the façade and given
See pp78–9.
artifacts such as altar cloths, the ornate cornices and bas-
reliefs an unsightly black sheen.
u Templo de la Yet the building still manages to
Congregación impress – it is built in the Spanish
Habsburg Imperial style and
Israelita takes a cue from the University in
Alcalá de Henares in Madrid with
Libertad 769. City Map 3 D4.
Tel (011) 4372-0014.  Tribunales. its Plateresque elements (a 15th-
@ 29, 39, 109. Open 3−5:30pm Tue & to 16th-century Spanish art form
Thu. Services: 8am & 6:15pm Sun–Thu, characterized by much orna-
8am, 6:15pm, & 7:30pm Fri. men tation). The interior is
∑ templolibertad.org.ar Museo decorated with materials
Judío de Buenos Aires Dr. Salvador imported from Spain, including
Kibrick: Tel same as the synagogue. mirrors from Seville, exquisite
Open 11−6pm Tue–Thu, 11am–5pm tapestries and drapes from
Fri. & 8 call ahead for details. Madrid, and tiles from Valencia
and Tarragona. The building was
The foundation stone for this given to the city by Spanish
beautiful synagogue was laid in The magnificent altar of the Templo de la actor María Guerrero and her
1897 by the Congregación Congregación Israelita husband Fernando Díaz de
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p278 and p288

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