Congreso

Congreso, just west of Buenos Aires’ center, has large European influenced buildings as well as many commercial shops and movie theaters. The Avenida Corrientes (Corrientes Avenue) is the main street running through the Congreso district and is home to many cafes and restaurants and the Obelisco monument, a 67 meter tall national historical statue built in 1936 by Argentine architect Alberto Prebisch. The nearly hundred-year-old Teatro Colon (Colon Theater) (see http://www.teatrocolon.org.ar/), one of the finest opera and performing arts houses in the world with an immaculate acoustic system, can fit 3,000 guests. The opera house officially opened in 1908 after 28 years of construction under three different architects (the first two died during construction). The Teatro Colon has a strong French influence, which is seen in its central ivory statue, intricately painted dome, numerous steps, columns, and gold embellishments. Performers such as Igor Stravinsky (a Russian composer), Richard Strauss (a German composer), Enrico Caruso (an acclaimed Italian opera singer), Maria Callas (a Greek-American opera singer), and Placido Domingo (a Spanish singer and conductor) have presented at the Teatro Colon. The theater holds ballet, opera, classical music, and other performances on a regular basis and is one of the most European influenced works of architecture in Buenos Aires. Teatro Colon has been undergoing renovation since 2006, and is expected to reopen in June 2010.  The Templo de la Congregacion Israelita (Israeli Congregation Temple) is Buenos Aires’ oldest and most prominent Jewish synagogue with clear Roman and Byzantine architectural influences. The Palacio de Agua Corrientes (Running Waters Palace) is a lavishly decorated former water reservoir designed by Norwegian architect Olaf Boye.  Though it has not operated since 1978, the reservoir once held 72 million liters (just over 19 million gallons) of water. Argentina’s Senate and Chamber of Deputies (the latter being equivalent to the United States House of Representatives) gather in the heavily Greek and Roman influenced Congreso (Congress) building. The Museo Casa Carlos Gardel (Carlos Gardel House Museum) is a collection of artifacts showcasing the famed musician’s life, such as photos, records, and original sheet music all in the house Gardel gave his mother (see Carlos Gardel section in Argentine Culture). Accommodations include (from least to most expensive) Hotel Reina (Avenida de Mayo 1120, http://www.reinahotel.com/), Hotel Ibis (Hipolito Yrigoyen 1592, http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-3251-ibis-buenos-aires/index.shtml), and Savoy Hotel (Callao 181, http://www.savoyhotel.com.ar/). Restaurants include Plaza Asturias (Avendia de Mayo 1199), La Americana (Callao 83), Bien Porteno (Rivadavia 1392), Yuki (Pasco 740), and El Espanol (Rincon 196).

tags: buenos aires ·