- Address: la Plaza del Congreso, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Phone: +54 (11) 6310 7100
- Opening hours: 11:00 to 16:00
- Website: www.congreso.gov.ar
- Cost of visit: free of charge
In the heart of Buenos Aires is the pompous building of the Congress of Argentina (Palacio del Congreso de la Nación Argentina), in which deputies and senators of the country hold meetings.
Information about the construction
The institution is located on the same street and is the acting headquarters of the parliament. About 6 million pesos were allocated for the project. The city authorities announced an international competition in which the Italian architect Vittorio Meano won. Construction of the Congress building began in 1897.
For the erection of the structure, the company "Pablo Besana y Cía" was chosen, which used Argentine granite in its work, and a Greco-Roman building was built. The prototype of it was the establishment of the US Congress.
In 1906, May 12, the official opening of the institution took place, however, the finishing works lasted until 1946, until the dome (rotunda) was faced. The latter, by the way, is the most prominent part of the building. He reaches a height of 80 m and weighs about 30 thousand tons, and crowns his crown, adorned with chimeras.
Description of the external facade of the Congress building in Argentina
The main entrance to the institution is on Entre-rios Street. It is decorated with 2 marble caryatids and 6 columns executed in the Corinthian order, which support a triangular pediment with the coat of arms of Argentina.
There were also several nude sculptures that symbolized Justice, Peace, Progress and Freedom, but later they were criticized, and in 1916 they were removed. In their place you can see 4 winged lions and 4 wrought lanterns. Not far from the pediment is a platform decorated with ornaments. On it is a bronze quadriga, which is a symbol of the triumph of the country. Its weight is about 20 tons, and height - 8 meters. The chariot with 4 horses was made by sculptor Victor de Paul.
Interior of the Palace of the National Congress of Argentina
The main parts of the Congress building are:
- hall of the Senate - an amphitheater with 2 floors and galleries;
- The meeting hall of the deputies is an amphitheater with a diameter of 26 m, having 3 floors with galleries: the first for official guests, the rest for the public;
- Pink Hall - used during meetings of the Senate;
- The blue hall is an octagonal room located under the dome itself;
- hall - used only during the period of state visits;
- Library of Congress - there are more than one million different volumes stored here;
- couloirs.
To decorate the interior used expensive materials: Italian walnut and Carrara marble.
Features of visit
Most of the premises in the Congress building in Argentina are accessible to visitors. Entrance to the institution is free, but it is obligatory as part of an organized excursion and accompanied by a guide. For tourists, the doors of the institution are open from Monday to Friday.
In front of the congress building is the square, which is a favorite place for recreation with Argentines. On weekends there are attractions here, and street vendors sell hand-made products.
How to get there?
You can reach the Congress Square by metro, the station is called Congreso. Then you should go to the end of the avenue Avenida de Mayo. You can also get there by taxi or bus. The entrance to the Senate Chamber is located on Iriigoena Street, and to the Deputies - on Rivadavia Street. The Congress building in Argentina is a majestic and extraordinarily beautiful structure that every tourist who is in Buenos Aires should visit.
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