Buenos Aires in March - Plaza de Mayo

Plaza de Mayo, founded in 1580, is the main square in downtown Buenos Aires. Its name commemorates the May Revolution of 1810 which started the process towards Argentina's independence from Spain in 1816. It is currently the political center of the country and a common place for demonstrations and protests. I got to visit it twice, once on the bus tour and again with Jim the next day. I found it to be a fascinating place.

The Casa Rosada is the main building on the Plaza de Mayo. The Argentine president works there, flying in by helicopter from her home each day. Evita addressed the Argentine workers from a balcony in the north wing. Madonna was actually filmed in that same balcony for the movie.

The other buildings surrounding the square include the National Bank of Argentina,

the Metropolitan Cathedral,

the Governor's Palace, the ornate Palacio Barolo (behind the cathedral) which was the tallest building in Argentina until 1935,

and the Palace of Legislature. The Cabildo (right), completed in 1751, was the original seat of city government established by the Spanish.

The square itself was filled with people and pigeons. Jim and I were enthralled by the little boy with the backpack chasing the pigeons.

Located in the square is The Piramide de Mayo which was built to celebrate the first anniversary of the May Revolution and is the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires....

...and The Monument to General Manuel Belgrano who participated in the War of Independence and created the flag of Argentina.

That's just the tip of the iceberg of what we got to see and experience in Buenos Aires. There's more to come!