Callao Avenue
Encyclopedia
Avenida Callao is one of the principal thoroughfares in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
, inspired by the urban redevelopment works in Paris
at the direction of Baron Haussmann
, drew up master plans for major boulevards, running east to west (every six blocks) and north to south (every ten blocks). Named in honor of the decisive Battle of Callao
, the avenue was included in the plan and widened in the 1880s. A one-way thoroughfare following a 1967 ordinance, the avenue travels northwards from its outset at Rivadavia Avenue
, along the northwest corner of Congressional Plaza
. That intersection is known for both the Argentine Congress and the El Molino Café
, both of whose domes are Buenos Aires landmarks. At the corner of Callao and Bartolemo Mitre is Residencia Azul, a student residence for college students and foreign travelers.
Three blocks north, the avenue passes by the Bauen Hotel
, a modernist highrise that garnered international attention following an employee takeover in the aftermath of its 2001 closure. The hotel, which maintains its 1970s interiors, is today one of Argentina's most successful "recovered workplaces." Two blocks on, Callao is graced by the Church of the Savior, a Jesuit
temple designed by local architect Pedro Luzetti between 1872 and 1887; their College of the Savior is adjacent to the church. At Córdoba Avenue
, where the avenue enters the upscale Recoleta
borough, the Clásica y Moderna bookstore has been one of the avenue's best-known cultural landmarks since 1938, when it became the first in Buenos Aires to incorporate a café. A block on, Rodríguez Peña Plaza provides needed parkland space along one of the city's most-densely populated areas. The plaza is notable for the Pizzurno Palace
facing it (the Ministry of Education) and Luisa Isella de Motteau's Thirst, her realist sculpture completed in 1914. A distinctly rounded Art Deco
apartment building designed by Francisco Salamone
stands on the southwest corner of the avenue and Pacheco de Melo Street.
Callao Avenue ends at Avenida del Libertador
, one of the city's most important boulevards. An amusement park, Italpark, stood at this site between 1960 and 1990, after which the lot was converted to Thays Park (named in honor of French Argentine
urbanist Charles Thays). The twenty-block avenue is not only a commuter artery, it also features a concentration of belle époque
architecture, much of which has been lost to development since the 1950s. The City Legislature is considering assigning a Historical Protection designation on the avenue, a measure protecting 85 significant buildings along Callao.
Avenida Callao
Overview
Mayor Torcuato de AlvearTorcuato de Alvear
Torcuato de Alvear y Saenz de la Quintanilla was a 19th century Argentine conservative politician. He was the son of soldier and statesman Carlos María de Alvear and father of Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear, president of Argentina from 1922 to 1928.In 1880 Buenos Aires was declared the capital city...
, inspired by the urban redevelopment works in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the direction of Baron Haussmann
Baron Haussmann
Georges-Eugène Haussmann, commonly known as Baron Haussmann , was a French civic planner whose name is associated with the rebuilding of Paris...
, drew up master plans for major boulevards, running east to west (every six blocks) and north to south (every ten blocks). Named in honor of the decisive Battle of Callao
Battle of Callao
The Battle of Callao occurred on May 2, 1866 between a Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez and the fortified battery emplacements of the Peruvian port city of Callao during the Chincha Islands War...
, the avenue was included in the plan and widened in the 1880s. A one-way thoroughfare following a 1967 ordinance, the avenue travels northwards from its outset at Rivadavia Avenue
Rivadavia Avenue
Avenida Rivadavia is one of the principal thoroughfares in Buenos Aires, Argentina, extending from downtown Buenos Aires to the western suburb of Merlo.-History:...
, along the northwest corner of Congressional Plaza
Congressional Plaza
Congressional Plaza is a public park facing the Argentine Congress in Buenos Aires. The plaza is part of a 3 hectare open space comprising three adjoining plazas to the east of the Congress building...
. That intersection is known for both the Argentine Congress and the El Molino Café
Confitería El Molino
The Confitería El Molino is an Art Nouveau style coffeehouse located on the corner of Callao and Rivadavia Avenues, in front of the Argentine National Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina....
, both of whose domes are Buenos Aires landmarks. At the corner of Callao and Bartolemo Mitre is Residencia Azul, a student residence for college students and foreign travelers.
Three blocks north, the avenue passes by the Bauen Hotel
Hotel Bauen
The Hotel Bauen is a recuperated business located at 360 Callao Avenue in Buenos Aires run collectively by its workers, serving both as a hotel and as a free meeting place for Argentine leftist and workers' groups...
, a modernist highrise that garnered international attention following an employee takeover in the aftermath of its 2001 closure. The hotel, which maintains its 1970s interiors, is today one of Argentina's most successful "recovered workplaces." Two blocks on, Callao is graced by the Church of the Savior, a Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
temple designed by local architect Pedro Luzetti between 1872 and 1887; their College of the Savior is adjacent to the church. At Córdoba Avenue
Córdoba Avenue
Córdoba Avenue is one of the principal thoroughfares in Buenos Aires, Argentina.-History:Mayor Torcuato de Alvear, inspired by the urban redevelopment works in Paris at the hand of Baron Haussmann, drew up master plans for major boulevards, running east to west, every six blocks. During the 1880s,...
, where the avenue enters the upscale Recoleta
Recoleta
Recoleta is a downtown residential neighborhood in the city of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina; it is an area of great historical and architectural interest, due, particularly to the Recoleta Cemetery located there...
borough, the Clásica y Moderna bookstore has been one of the avenue's best-known cultural landmarks since 1938, when it became the first in Buenos Aires to incorporate a café. A block on, Rodríguez Peña Plaza provides needed parkland space along one of the city's most-densely populated areas. The plaza is notable for the Pizzurno Palace
Pizzurno Palace
The Pizzurno Palace, as the "Sarmiento Palace" is commonly known, is an architectural landmark in the Recoleta section of Buenos Aires and the location of the Argentine Ministry of Education.-Overview:...
facing it (the Ministry of Education) and Luisa Isella de Motteau's Thirst, her realist sculpture completed in 1914. A distinctly rounded Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
apartment building designed by Francisco Salamone
Francisco Salamone
Francisco Salamone was an Argentine architect of Italian descent who, between 1936 and 1940, during the Infamous Decade, built more than 60 municipal buildings with elements of Art Deco style in 25 rural communities on the Argentine Pampas within the Buenos Aires Province...
stands on the southwest corner of the avenue and Pacheco de Melo Street.
Callao Avenue ends at Avenida del Libertador
Avenida del Libertador
Avenida del Libertador is one of the principal thoroughfares in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in points north, extending 25 km from the Retiro District of Buenos Aires to the northern suburb of San Fernando.-History:...
, one of the city's most important boulevards. An amusement park, Italpark, stood at this site between 1960 and 1990, after which the lot was converted to Thays Park (named in honor of French Argentine
French Argentine
A French Argentine is an Argentine citizen of full or partial French ancestry. French Argentines form the third or fourth largest ancestry group after Italian Argentines, Spanish Argentines, and perhaps German Argentines...
urbanist Charles Thays). The twenty-block avenue is not only a commuter artery, it also features a concentration of belle époque
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
architecture, much of which has been lost to development since the 1950s. The City Legislature is considering assigning a Historical Protection designation on the avenue, a measure protecting 85 significant buildings along Callao.