The political heart of Argentina since 1580. The plaza is flanked by the Casa Rosada (presidential palace), the Cabildo (colonial town hall), and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Every major event in Argentine history has played out here: independence, coups, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, and Peronist rallies.
Location
Microcentro, Buenos Aires
Map
Insider Intel
Walk the perimeter. The Casa Rosada is open for free guided tours on weekends (book online in advance). The Cabildo houses a modest museum of colonial history. The Pirámide de Mayo in the center is the oldest national monument (1811). Every Thursday at 3:30pm, the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo still march in their white headscarves.
Late afternoon for the best light on the Casa Rosada facade. Thursday afternoons to witness the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo march. Avoid midday heat in summer. The plaza is always accessible, but the surrounding buildings have specific hours.
The plaza has witnessed independence (1810), military coups (too many), Evita addressing the masses from the Casa Rosada balcony (1945–1952), the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo demanding justice for the disappeared (1977–present), and protests that toppled presidents (2001). The name comes from the May Revolution of 1810. The Casa Rosada is pink because 19th-century presidents mixed red and white paint to symbolize political unity (or because cow blood was added to the paint — the true reason is disputed). Essential historical context for understanding Argentina.