Obelisco in Buenos Aires: a concrete landmark of Argentina’s capital
Published on 09/04/2026 at 20:57 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Obelisco in Buenos Aires is a slender reinforced-concrete monument rising above the traffic of Avenida 9 de Julio, marking the first foundation of the city in 1536 and the spot where the Argentine national flag was first raised in the capital. Completed in 1936 and designed by architect Alberto Prebisch, it has become a central landmark of Argentina’s largest city.
A modernist shaft in the Plaza de la República
Obelisco stands in the Plaza de la República, a paved island at the intersection of Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida Corrientes in the San Nicolás district of Buenos Aires, surrounded by multilane traffic and commercial buildings.Plaza de la República The monument is a tall, four-sided shaft of reinforced concrete with minimal ornament and a small square base that anchors it in the centre of the plaza.reinforced concrete structure
The obelisk reaches a height of 67.5 m (221 ft), with each side of the shaft a little under 9 m (30 ft) wide, giving it a deliberately slender, vertical emphasis against the broad expanse of Avenida 9 de Julio.67.5-metre high obelisk Its concrete surfaces are interrupted only by simple inscriptions that record key dates in the history of the city, including 2 February 1536 for the first foundation and 23 August 1812 for the first raising of the national flag.inscriptions mark key dates
Commemorating the first foundation of Buenos Aires
The monument was commissioned during the presidency of Agustín Pedro Justo and inaugurated on 23 May 1936 as part of a wider remaking of central Buenos Aires in the first half of the twentieth century.inaugurated on 23 May 1936 Its purpose is to commemorate the quadricentennial of the first foundation of Buenos Aires by Pedro de Mendoza in 1536, a short-lived settlement that nonetheless marks the beginning of the city’s documented history.first foundation in 1536
Obelisco also marks the site where the Argentine national flag was first raised in Buenos Aires in 1812, giving the monument a double commemorative role linking the colonial foundation and the early years of independence.raised for the first time The monument was declared a national historic monument of Argentina, underscoring its formal status in the country’s heritage and its association with major civic events.monumento histórico nacional
Inside the structure and around the avenues
Behind its plain exterior, Obelisco contains a narrow interior space with a ladder that climbs to a viewing room near the top of the shaft, though this interior is not part of regular public circulation.ladder leading up to the viewing platform The monument’s reinforced-concrete construction was completed in a short period in 1936, making use of modern building techniques to raise a relatively light but tall structure above the junction of the avenues.67,5 Meter hohes Denkmal
Avenida 9 de Julio, which crosses the city on a broad north–south axis, and Avenida Corrientes, lined with theatres and cinemas, frame Obelisco from different angles, so that the monument appears repeatedly in views along the streets.intersection of two important streets Nearby, the Gran Rex Theatre on Corrientes, also designed by Alberto Prebisch, shows the same modernist preference for clear volumes and functional layout, linking Obelisco to a broader architectural programme of the 1930s in Buenos Aires.Gran Rex Theatre nearby
Visiting Obelisco: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Obelisco stands in the Plaza de la República at the junction of Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida Corrientes in central Buenos Aires, reached by city buses and the Subte underground network.
- The plaza is surrounded by wide roads and pedestrian crossings, so reaching the base of the monument involves crossing multi-lane streets and walking on level paved surfaces.
- Within short walking distance are theatre buildings on Avenida Corrientes, including Gran Rex Theatre, and various commercial blocks that give an urban backdrop to the monument.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Obelisco on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Obelisco
Where is Obelisco located in Buenos Aires?
Obelisco stands in the Plaza de la República at the intersection of Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida Corrientes in the San Nicolás area of central Buenos Aires.
What should visitors expect when they visit Obelisco?
Visitors encounter a tall, minimalist reinforced-concrete monument rising from a paved plaza amid heavy traffic, with views along Avenida 9 de Julio and towards theatre façades on Avenida Corrientes.
What makes Obelisco distinctive among city landmarks?
Its 67.5 m (221 ft) concrete shaft, its role in marking both the first foundation of Buenos Aires in 1536 and the first raising of the national flag in 1812, and its formal status as a national historic monument make Obelisco a distinctive focal point in the city.
