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Buenos Aires Government House (Casa Rosada=Pink House).

All the photographs are © 2002, Dr. Mario Mc Loughlin
La Casa Rosada "The Pink House" is the result of the fusion of two diferent buidings: The post office and the Custom Building. This house is where the offices of the President are situated since 1862, but its relationship with power is older.Click here to enlarge In 1595 a fort was built in that place (Juan de Austria's Royal Fortress). Later, that fort was substituted by the Custom Building and a Post Office was built on the site in 1870. The color was decided by President Sarmiento and it was pink to symbolize the reunification of the country following the civil war between the Federals (whose color was red) and the Unitarians (whose color was white).Click here to enlarge
Casa Rosada. View across Plaza de Mayo. In the middle of the square you can see the Pirámide de Mayo (a monument to the 1810 Mayo revolution) Casa Rosada: Front View. Originally there were two separated buildings (Right: Custom building) (Left: Original Fort). Later the buildings were connected by the construction that can be seen in the middle
In 1894, architect Francisco Tamburini connected both wings (the Post Office and Customs buildings) with a large central arch which is now the main access from Balcarce Street, and built other sections overlooking Paseo Colón and Rivadavia avenues, the back and side entrances, respectively. Click here to enlarge From these balconies the crowd was addressed by different politicians (as Perón and Evita), and generals, usually with bad results.Madonna performance of "Don't cry for me Argentina" was filmed here. Please, click here to enlarge
Casa Rosada: Most recent building connecting two old wings. Casa Rosada: Evita's Balcony.
The building of Economy's Offices was built in 1940 and recalls the monumental features of nazi or fascist architecture, reflecting the affinity of argentinean government with authoritarian pre WWII German and Italian administrations. In their walls there are marks of bullets fired during the revolution against Perón regimen in 1955. Click here to enlarge MONUMENT TO COLUMBUS IN PLAZA COLON: This monument made of white Carrara marble by Arnaldo Zocchi was a donation of the Italian community to celebrate the centennial of the May Revolution. At the obelisk feet there is an allegorical ship pushed by seamen under the protection of Faith. Click here to enlarge
Casa Rosada: Right wing. Building of Economy's Minister. Casa Rosada: Rear View across Plaza Colon. In front, Cristobal Colon Monument.

 
See the excavated ruins of architect Taylor's work in 1895. There are 15 arches and two drillholes to a depth of 7.5 meters below the pavement, because the old building was buried when the shore was filled in to build the New Port. Click here to enlarge The Presindent works in Casa Rosada but he lives in other house (Quinta Presidencial de Olivos), located 10 miles away from Plaza the Mayo. Click here to enlarge
Casa Rosada: Rear View from the right.

 

 Casa Rosada: Rear View from the right.
There is a little museum in a lateral part of the Pink House that communicates with this old pit (which can be visited) where goods were deposited in days when the Taylor's Custom Building (1895) was used. Click here to enlarge PLAZA COLON This square behind Government House has a semicircular shape because it covers the spot where the old New Customs House building once stood. Click here to enlarge
Casa Rosada: Rear View from the right. In front, Taylor's custom building pit.

 

 Casa Rosada: Rear View from the Left.

 

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