By Charlie Higgins
The protesters are loud and the buildings are magnificent in Congreso, the political epicenter of Buenos Aires. Its an essential place to visit on your Buenos Aires immersion experience.
Boasting some of the most impressive historic architecture and landmarks in the city, Congreso attracts thousands of local and international tourists alike. Despite its grandiose buildings and political significance, Congreso is a typical middle class neighborhood when you get down to it, but its one you should definitely visit on your Buenos Aires travel experience.
Not surprisingly, Congreso is the political heart of the city and therefore the country as well. The sensational Congress building dates back to the early 1900s and serves as the meeting place for Argentina’s infamous political leaders. With its neoclassic adornments and larger-than-life scale, the building looks as though it were plucked out of Washington D.C. or Rome. Guided tours of the Congress are available in Spanish, English and French.
While the area is quite often a madhouse with picketers protesting everything from inflation to human rights issues, Congreso practically shuts down at night. Still there’s plenty of nightlife to be had, particularly if you’re looking for quintessential Buenos Aires activities like tango or theater.
For a thrilling introduction to the bright city lights of Buenos Aires, head over to Avenida Corrientes between Plaza del Congreso and the Obelisk. Here you’ll find a wealth of entertainment options, from campy musical reviews to stellar theater productions and tango dinner shows. There’s a reason why Corrientes is considered the Broadway of Buenos Aires. After the show, grab a slice of greasy pie at Guerrín, one of the city’s oldest pizzerias.
For a truly unique Buenos Aires experience, book a tour at the Palacio Barolo on Avenida de Mayo. When it was completed in 1923, Palacio Barolo was the tallest building in South America, and it remains one of the city’s architectural icons, albeit an anomaly. Italian architect Mario Palanti loosely based the building’s design on Dante’s Divine Comedy.
The tour begins in “hell” and takes visitors through the various levels of the afterlife described in the epic poem. Architectural curiosity aside, the real reason to visit is for the breathtaking views of Buenos Aires from a small glass enclosure at the building’s apex, which Palanti used to represent the celestial heavens (on a hot summer day it tends to feel like just the opposite).
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