Obelisk of Buenos Aires

The Obelisk of Buenos Aires , is located at the center of the Plaza of República, with the intersection of the avenues Corrientes and 9 of julio, is one of the icons of Buenos Aires.

The construction of the monument began the March 20th 1936; it was inaugurated the May 23rd 1936, for the fourth centenary of the first foundation of the city, asking only 31 days for its construction. It was drawn by the architect Albert Prebisch (one of the principal architects of the Argentinian modernism and also author of Teatro Gran Rex close, in the streets Corrientes and Suipacha), on the request of the intendant of the city Mariano de Vedia there Miter (named under the presidency of Agustín Pedro Justo), and was built by the company Siemens Bau Union. It measures 67,5 meters of height (that of Louxor to Paris measures 22,87 m) and 49 m basic ². It is hollow and has only one main door. With its top four windows are laid out, which one can reach only by climbing a vertical staircase of 206 steps.

In February 1938, Roberto Marcelino Ortiz succeeded Justo, and indicated, like new intendant of the city certain Arturo Goyeneche. The Council Deliberating, by the Ordinance Nº 10.251 of June 1939, sanctioned the demolition of the Obelisk, mixing with the economic reasons, esthetics and of public safety. But the municipal executive power put its veto at the ordinance, caractérísant this one of act without value nor contained legal, since it was about a monument under jurisdiction and protection of the nation, to which belonged this inheritance.

It should be noted that at the place where the obelisk is drawn up, one had to demolish the church dedicated to Saint Nicolas of Bari. However, it is in this one that officially for the first time the Argentinian flag in the town of Buenos Aires in 1816 was hoisted: this circumstance is recalled on one of the readable inscriptions on the obelisk, side northern.

For his construction, which cost 200.000 pesos time, one used 680 m ³ cement and 1360 m ² of white stone of Córdoba (the obelisk of Louxor, in Paris, has a weight of 227 tons). Following certain vandalisms which took place in 1938, one removed the coating of stone and one replaced it by polished cement.

The structure of the monument, based on rationalist esthetics, generated many polemics among the partisans of the restoration of the city and the sectors plus traditionalists. Currently however, it conquered the hearts and one regards it as a symbol of the city.

The obelisk was frequently used as gathering point for various demonstrations, which embrace also the surrounding streets (Avenida 9 of julio and Avenida Corrientes), phenomenon rather similar to what does without Plaza Mayo.

See too

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