Two squares became one
For most of its history this was two squares split by an arcade, the Recova. When the Recova was demolished in 1884, the two halves joined into the single plaza you see.
Urban Tales › Buenos Aires › Plaza de Mayo
Plaza de Mayo: where Argentina gathers
Laid out in 1580 and renamed after the May Revolution of 1810, Plaza de Mayo is where Buenos Aires celebrates, protests and remembers. The Casa Rosada, the Cabildo and the Cathedral all face it.
Laid out1580
Named afterMay Revolution, 1810
Oldest monumentPirámide de Mayo, 1811
Around itCasa Rosada, Cabildo, Cathedral
Hear the Plaza de Mayo story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
1
2
The oldest monument in town
The white obelisk in the middle, the Pirámide de Mayo, went up in 1811 for the first anniversary of the revolution. It's the oldest monument in Buenos Aires.
3
The white scarves
Since 1977, the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo have walked around the pyramid to ask what happened to children who disappeared under the military dictatorship. Their white headscarves are painted on the ground around it.
TipLook down near the pyramid for the painted white scarves, then cross to the Cathedral: General San Martín's mausoleum is inside, guarded by grenadiers. With Urban Tales running, each building's story plays as you walk around the square.
Nearby landmarks
Plaza de Mayo: common questions
Why is it called Plaza de Mayo?
It's named after the May Revolution of 1810, the week in May when Buenos Aires replaced the Spanish viceroy with its own government, the first step towards independence.
Who are the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo?
Mothers whose children disappeared during Argentina's military dictatorship (1976–1983). They began walking around the square in 1977, wearing white headscarves, and became a worldwide symbol of the search for the disappeared.
What buildings are on Plaza de Mayo?
The Casa Rosada (presidential offices), the Cabildo (the colonial town hall), the Metropolitan Cathedral, and government buildings along the sides.