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Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires attractions > Plaza de Mayo | May Plaza Plaza de Mayo | May PlazaAvenida de Mayo (@ La Casa Rosada)
 The Plaza de Mayo is the center of Buenos Aires for visitors, protestors, business people, the Argentine president, and the famed Madres de Plaza de Mayo. Photo by Greg Roden. One could easily call the Plaza de Mayo the heart of Buenos Aires – the streets on all sides the arteries, the drums of the piqueteros (protesters) the beat, and the pink walls of La Casa Rosada the (literal and figurative) blood. Indeed, the plaza is often number one on the destination list of visitors to the city. The plaza gets its name from the date in May when the city declared independence from its Spanish roots in 1810. May 25th is still a national holiday. Depending on the day and time, there are a number of experiences to be had at the plaza. It is sometimes referred to as the Plaza de Protestas due to the seemingly constant throngs of protestors bused into the city from the provinces to demand justice for one thing or another and make their voices heard. To this day, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo meet every Thursday at 3:30pm to make their walk of protest around the Pirámide de Mayo – a small obelisk in the center of the plaza to commemorate a year of independence. The plaza is flanked on all sides with the great sights and sounds of the city. The Catedral Metropolitan can be found at the northeast corner (at the intersection of Rivadavia and San Martín). The cathedral is a beautiful sight with its palatial columns and and school groups can often be found outside waiting for a tour, as it is the site of the mausoleum of the country’s embodiment of independence, General José de San Martín. The Museo de Cabildo or town hall can be found on the west side of the plaza (on Avenida de Mayo) and the pleasant façade that remains opens up to a museum and coffee shop. The most obvious sight is the inimitable Casa Rosada on the east side of the plaza. If you focus hard enough you may even catch the ghost of Evita Perón or even (gulp!) Madonna on the balcony looking down at the masses. The plaza is want for grass and water. Fountains are generally dry as are the few patches of grass making it one of the less appealing plazas in town to picnic in the afternoon. This doesn’t stop the business district descending upon the plaza en masse at lunchtime, however. Visitors are likely to find people distributing fliers for tour groups and selling mountains of souvenirs, panchos, and other tasty treats. Don’t be surprised, however, if your experience of the plaza is interrupted by a group of thousands descending upon the government offices with smoke bombs, drums, and flags galore. After all – los piqueteros are part of the genuine Buenos Aires experience. —Plaza de Mayo | May Plaza review by Clare Nisbet
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