5. - The Presidential Palace - Casa de Gobierno
Known as the Rose House - Casa Rosada, which is the colour with which it was painted as ordered by the president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento in the year 1873, this seat of government was built on top of what used to be the Royal Fortress of San Juan Baltasar de Austria, the first fort of Buenos Aires, dating back to 1595.

The first republican rulers, from the first Junta, in 1810, up to the general Bartolom Mitre in 1862, lived and worked in some small rooms that had belonged to the primitive Fort, at the northern end of the present day Rose House - Casa Rosada.

Some years later, after an accidental fire had broken out in a stove chimney, it was rebuilt and, at the same time president Sarmiento ordered the building of a new Post Office on what is today the southern end of the Casa Rosada.

Designed following the precepts of the Italian and French renaissance style by the architects Aberg and Kihlberg, this building was inaugurated in 1879 by president Avellaneda.

Later on, during the government of Roca, the Government House was demolished and a new building was erected with the same characteristics that the Post Office building had. Later on, the two buildings were connected through an archway, which gave it its actual look. Afterwards, the esplanade on Rivadavia was built and the construction of the facade overlooking the back was finished.

Inside, a place of a varied and opulent decoration reigns. Special mention must be made of the White Room - el Salon Blanco, where the swearing in of the succeeding presidents and ministers takes place, as well as other solemn acts.

The roof of this lavish room is decorated with the painting of the Italian artist Luis de Servi and from it hangs a chandelier of 192 bulbs. The majesty of the space is presided over by a marble bust representing the Republic, together with a version of the Nation's Shield of great dimensions.

The Palm Tree or Presidential Patio is the principal open space within this Palace. Inside one can find a fountain that was bought in 1910 from the French merchant house of Du Val DOsne in 1910, in commemoration of the first hundred years of the Revolucin de Mayo; and the Gallery of Busts, where a bust of every president is unveiled ten years after he finishes his administration.

The outside balcony facing Hiplito Irigoyen Street, has a long history that goes back to 1901, when the president Julio A. Roca appeared there for the first time, and later on president Juan D. Pern and Evita haranguing the people and his followers up till 1974.

There are guided visits from Mondays through Fridays between 3 PM and 5 PM. The traditional changing of the Grenadier Guards takes place every two hours on daily basis, starting at 7AM and continuing though the day until 7 PM. The building is a National Historical Monument since 1942.

(The closest Underground subway station is: Plaza de Mayo - Line A.).

6. - The Presidential Palace Museum.
It was inaugurated in 1957 and contains furniture, works of art, uniforms, medals and other elements related to the governments and the personal belongings of the rulers the country has had from its second foundation in 1580 till the present day.

A curious detail is the net of subterranean galleries which burrow down to approximately 14 metres (around 40 feet) depth, some going off in the direction of Paseo Coln. They were part of the old 1595 Fortress and also of the so-called New Customs House of 1855. They were first covered up during the landfill for the new port, and were rediscovered by chance during the demolition and building activities of the year 1942.

The first hall exhibits presidential sashes and batons; the second hall shows tableware, cutlery and other such objects. The museum also has a newspaper collection, which is open to scholars. The main entrance is on Hiplito Yrigoyen Street Nr. 219. Guided visits are from Mondays through Fridays between 11 AM and 4 PM, and Sundays between 3 PM and 4:30 PM.

(The closest Underground subway station is: Plaza de Mayo - Line A.).

7. - Monument to Christopher Columbus
Close to the Presidential Palace there is a half circle plaza called Columbus Plaza - Plaza Coln, surrounded by Paseo Coln and de la Rbida Avs. There, a monument stands honouring the discoverer of America, made out of the finest Carrara marble. It was donated by the Italian community on the first centennial of the May Revolution in 1910.

8. - Statue of Juan de Garay
Close to the Presidential Palace there is a small circular plaza called Plazoleta 11 de Junio. In its centre stands the striking monument in memory of Juan de Garay, who was the second founder of the city of Buenos Aires in the year 1580. It is placed on the Avenida L.N. Alem.

(The closest Underground subway station is: Plaza de Mayo - Line A.).

9. - The National Bank of Argentina
The huge building that can be seen at the corner of Rivadavia and Reconquista Sts, belong to the National Bank of Argentina and it is worth mentioning that it was the first seat of the famous Columbus Theatre - Teatro Coln. It was opened in 1857 thanks to the vision and generosity of Carlos Enrique Pellegrini.

The theatre was the first building with a roof made of iron; it was manufactured in Dublin, Ireland. The Teatro Coln left behind this and other technological innovations of this spacious and restful building when it moved in 1888, to finally end up in the barrio of San Nicols, close to the today well-known Plaza Lavalle, in 1908.

This building, the main seat of the Banco de la Nacin Argentina since 1888, was remodelled for its new banking functions. It is well worth seeing its inside, a manor style decoration, with materials and airs typical of the XIX century.

The bank has a Historical and Numismatic Museum and an art gallery named after its creator Alejandro Bustillo that holds a great collection of art works and which is. It can be found on Rivadavia Street Nr. 325. To visit the Historical and Numismatic Museum you must go to the corner of 25 de Mayo and Bartolom Mitre. It is open to the public from Mondays through Fridays. Visiting hours are between 10 AM and 3 PM.

(The closest Underground subway stations are: Peru - Line A, Catedral - Line D, Bolvar - Line E).