Buenos Aires House of Culture, Buenos Aires

51±¬ÁÏÍø

Buenos Aires House of Culture, Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires House of Culture, Buenos Aires

The Buenos Aires House of Culture stands as a significant architectural marvel situated in the Montserrat district of Argentina's capital city.

Back in 1894, José Clemente Paz, owner of La Prensa newspaper, replaced its old headquarters with a new one on May Avenue. Architects Carlos Agote and Alberto Gainza designed it in Beaux-Arts style, drawing from their Paris education and taking cues from the work of the French architect Charles Garnier.

In 1898, the new La Prensa office was unveiled in a ceremony attended by approximately 20,000 individuals. The Beaux-Arts façade is especially notable for its spire, crowned with a gilded bronze monument symbolizing the freedom of the press.

In the spire is a siren installed in 1900 by La Prensa to announce important events. It sounded five times in the past century: after King Umberto I's assassination, Apollo 11's moon landing, Argentina's 1978 FIFA World Cup win, during the Falkland Islands invasion in 1982, and at President Raúl Alfonsín's 1983 inauguration, marking democracy's return.

The interior of the building was meticulously crafted with predominantly imported materials, including Spargne elevators from the United States, along with French elements like Boulanger mosaic tiles, clocks designed by Paul Garnier, and wrought-iron creations from Val d'Osne. The focal point of the first floor is the Golden Salon, adorned with frescoes crafted by the Italian-born painters Reynaldo Giudici and Nazareno Orlandi.

Recognized as the House of Culture, this edifice gained the designation of a National Historic Monument in 1995. The passageway that once connected it to the neighboring Buenos Aires City Hall was transformed into the Ana Díaz Salon, where art exhibitions are now hosted.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Buenos Aires. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Buenos Aires House of Culture on Map

Sight Name: Buenos Aires House of Culture
Sight Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina (See walking tours in Buenos Aires)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Create Your Own Walk in Buenos Aires

Create Your Own Walk in Buenos Aires

Creating your own self-guided walk in Buenos Aires is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Buenos Aires Introduction Walking Tour

Buenos Aires Introduction Walking Tour

Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina. The city was first founded as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre in 1536 by the Spanish. But this settlement was quickly abandoned in 1542, and the city was refounded in 1580. Buenos Aires boomed as a port city focused on trade.

Argentina gained independence from Spanish rule during the May Revolution of 1810. Today, the May...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
May Avenue Walking Tour

May Avenue Walking Tour

May Avenue (Avenida de Mayo) is one of the grandest and most important avenues in Buenos Aires, leading from Plaza de Mayo with the Pink House at one end, to Argentina’s National Congress building at the other. Named in honor of the May Revolution of 1810 which lead to the country’s independence from Spain, it is difficult not to compare this grand thoroughfare to other major boulevards around...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Recoleta Neighborhood Walking Tour

Recoleta Neighborhood Walking Tour

One of Buenos Aires’ most beautiful neighborhoods, Recoleta is the city’s heart of art and elegance, grace and modernism, culture and leisure. Here you will find lots of things to do, like visiting museums, galleries and cultural centers; relaxing in one of the beautiful parks and plazas; or sampling the delicious local food.

This walking tour along Recoleta begins at the Ateneo Grand...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Palermo Area Walking Tour

Palermo Area Walking Tour

Situated just back from one of the main thoroughfares, Santa Fe Avenue (Avenida Santa Fe), Palermo is a relaxed and culturally delightful area full of restaurants, cafes, and wall murals. The tree-lined streets are shady and many of the older Spanish-style houses were converted into small shops without compromising their original character. It’s an excellent place in which to sample the city’s...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

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