Avenida 9 de Julio is a monumental street that runs through the heart of Buenos Aires. It takes its name, which translates to July 9th Avenue, from the date Argentina officially declared independence from Spain in 1812.
Walking down the middle of the 12 lane avenue, it’s hard to believe construction didn’t begin until the 1930s. The scale of the demolition necessary to create this 460-feet-wide swath through the centre of the Argentine Capital must have been staggering.
The Ministry of Social Development
Near the southern end of Avenida 9 de Julio is the former Ministry of Communications building, which today houses the Ministry of Social Development. What’s interesting about this building are the two massive steel portraits of Argentina’s heroine, Eva Perón, aka. Evita. Each sculpture is over 100 feet tall, nearly 80 feet wide and weighs 14 tons.
South side of the Ministry of Social Development, showing Eva Perón looking benevolently across Buenos Aires
North side of the Ministry of Social Development, showing Evita making a radio broadcast from this very building, back when it was the Ministry of Communications
Roughly halfway along Avenida 9 de Julio is Plaza de la República, in the centre of which stands El Obelisco. The 221-feet-high Obelisk was built in 1936 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires. It occupies the former location of San Nicolas Church, where the Argentinean flag was flown for the first time in Buenos Aires following independence in 1812.
El Obelisco (looking north)
El Obelisco (looking south)
El Obelisco (looking up!)
A little further north is Teatro Colón, Argentina’s premier theater and opera house.
Teatro Colón
The northern end of Avenida 9 de Julio feeds into Arturo Illia Expressway, which in turn joins the Pan-American Highway that runs all the way from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska.
A big thank you to Pablo Piera for introducing us to Avenida 9 de Julio.
This post was inspired by the photo themes of All About Cities from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge and Jo’s Monday Walk.
If you’re the sort of person that loves delving into history on your travels, why not sign up and follow my continuing Journeys here at Jaspa’s Journal (on WordPress or Bloglovin’), or through my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr?
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Good memories! I have been here! I miss mate.
BA is definitely an interesting city.
Yes it is 🙂
Wonderful city photos for this week. Thanks Jaspa.
Thanks, Cee!
It’s always a pleasure to travel the world with you Jaspa 😀 … and Buenos Aires is a city I’ve not seen before. Thank you for being my tour guide on the trip down Avenida 9 de Julio 🙂
Any time, Peggy, any time!
It’s all on the grand scale, isn’t it, Jaspa? I love the Eva Perons 🙂 Many thanks for sharing.
Grand scale doesn’t even begin to describe it, Jo. And if you look carefully at Evita’s hair in the second picture you can make out a date.
I’ve always wanted to go there. Thanks for sharing your pictures!
I hope you make it there one day, Victoria!
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I discovered your blog today from Jo’s Monday Walks – look forward to reading more in the future! Best, Susan
I hope you continue to enjoy it, Susan!