El Obelisco, Buenos Aires

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The Obelisco is a national monument of Buenos Aires and it is located on Repubblica square, between avenida Corrientes and avenida 9 de Julio.
It was built to commemorate the fourth century since the foundation of the city. To be honest of all the attractions, it is the one you enjoy less as it is in the middle of a very busy area full of cars and smog. I would not mind to avoid it, which is nearly impossible anyway as you will probably pass by with taxi sooner or later.

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This Washington Monument-like structure soars over the oval "Plaza de la Republica". It was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first Spanish settlement on the Rio de Plata in 1936. Since then it has become a symbol for the city and a favorite site for meetings and jubilation like celebrating soccer winnings!

It reminds you of the obelisks in Paris and Luxor...but this time, it is in the middle of one of biggest avenues in the world!

I crossed the big avenue several times during my walks and at one time, I heard someone honking his car - and the driver waving at me! And guess what…it was the driver who drove me from the airport a few days before! He still recognized me and was laughing and waving his hands, probably surprised to see me walking.

Small world in a big city like Buenos Aires!

I made a video of my short trip to Buenos Aires on Youtube. Hope you like this:

JUMPING NORMAN IN BUENOS AIRES

The 223-foot (68-metre) Obelisco was built to mark four historical events: the first and the final foundation of Buenos Aires; the 1880 declaration of the city as the country's federal capital; and the site of the demolished church of San Nicolás, where the national flag was first flown.
Constructed in 1936, and reaching over 60 metres in height, the Obelisco in Buenos Aires is one of the more recognisable monuments in the city. Situated on the site of the San Nicolás de Bari church, its position commemorates the fact that the national flag was raised for the first time in Buenos Aires on that spot.

Situated on one of the busiest junctions in the city, where Avenida Corrientes (home to many theatres & cafés) meets the mighty 20-lane Avenida 9 de Julio, hundreds of thousands of porteños pass by it every day. The focus of many angry protests of the last several decades, El Obelisco is now more likely to be used in raising awareness and has been covered with a condom for World Aids Day or converted into a pencil to commemorate the Noche de los Lapices

This is one of the most well known symbols of Buenos Aires, though for a while the locals didn't like it much.

It was erected in 1936 to celebrate the 400 anniversary of the very first founding of the city by Pedro de Mendoza.

Located on Plaza de la Republica, this is at the intersection of Corrientes and 9 de Julio. On Corrientes is the Theater District. Along the sides of of the plaza you will see a plaque for each of the provinces of Argentina.

The Obelisco is where locals go to celebrate New Year and great occasions. It is also a gathering point for protests.

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This Oblelisk was built in 1936 to commerate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires. But for me it served as a point of reference so I wouldn't get lost when I was walking the busy streets. Nothing like a giant phallus like structure to stand out like...well...a phallus. But this is nothing new to me or other countries for that matter as I have used the giant phallus/obelisk all over the world to serve as a guiding point. From Washington DC to Luxor with Paris and Rome in between it strangely sort of comforting to see familiar structures when I'm traveling far from home. Sadly its also a reminder that I'm not as big as I may like to think I'am.

Designed after the Washington Monument or ancient Egypt depending upon whom you read, the Obelisco was built in only 31 days in 1936. Unlike the Washington Monument, you can’t go up the Obelisco’s 67 meters – if you want to ascend towers, then try the 57 meters of the Torre Monumental (the English Tower) over by Plaza San Martin. The Obelisco was originally designed with an elevator in mind but …. There are inscriptions at the base commemorating the original foundation of BsAs in 1536 – and the refoundation in 1580 – and 1880, when BsAs was finally designated as the Capital Federal. A fence surrounds since 1987 to protect the monument from grafitti that is a sad reality to most monuments here in BsAs.

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The Obelisco, located here in the center of Avenida 9 de Julio is an interesting structure. It was designed by an Argentinian architect, Alberto Prebish and was erected in 1936.

I read that the monuments four sides "illustrate an important event in Argentinia's history"

1. Foundation of Buenos Aires, 1536
2. More succesful foundation of Buenos Aires, 1580
3. The creation of the federal capital in 1880
4. First hoisting of the national flag in San Nicolas church (which once stood here).

This Oblelisk was built in 1936 to commerate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires. It has come to be the equivalent to Buenos Aires what the Effiel tower is to Paris or Big Ben to London.

El Obelisco is a modern monument placed at the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

el obelisco was built in May 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first founding of the city. It is located in the center of the Plaza de la República (Republic Square), the spot where the Argentine flag was flown for the first time in Buenos Aires, at the intersection of Nueve de Julio and Corrientes avenues

The obelisk is one of the main icons of the city, and a venue for various cultural activities.

It is the traditional gathering spot for sports fans to celebrate when their favourite team wins, especially from the national football team, often resulting in colorful events that attract media coverage.

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Built in May 1936, Buenos Aires' massive monolith Obelisco is placed in the heart of the city, where Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, and Avenida Corrientes, the Times Square of Argentina, come together. It commemorates four key events in the city's history: the first and second foundings, the first raising of the flag in 1812 and the naming of Buenos Aires as Capital Federal in 1880. This modern monument streches 67 metres skyward above Plaza de la Republica. It was designed by Argentine architect Alberto Prebisch and its construction took just 31 days.

Obelisco is one of the main icons of the city. It provides an excellent orientation point. Obelisco has become a tradition to be the place where most demonstrations in Buenos Aires start and eventually going to Casa Rosada. It's the celebration spot for football victories and a venue for various musical and cultural events (usually sponsored by the city's government). The most renowned Argentine ballet dancer Julio Bocca also gave his final farewell performance here (on December 22, 2007).

At night the obelisk brightens with white lights, although the gleam of surrounding neon billboards is what gives the area its unique and colourful glow.