With a very visible French style and surrounded by historic buildings, Paseo del Bajo is one of our favorite areas in Buenos Aires city.
Features Paseo del Bajo
This modern promenade is something that porteños and visitors to the city of Buenos Aires can enjoy since 2019.
Originally, this part of the city was covered by water. However, back in the late 19th century, it was decided to reclaim lands to the river, Río de la Plata, in order to build Puerto Madero. And since then, this place has been changing a lot.
The project for the new Paseo del Bajo involved the development of new green spaces. Adding up parks and squares we could count 60,000 m2!
This green corridor is located between Corrientes Av. (North) and Belgrano Av. (South) – Paseo Colón Av. (West) and Huergo Av. (East)
For its design it was necessary to undertake a pharaonic work. It implied, among other things, the construction of an underground highway. Only of trucks and buses are allowed to use it.
Of course, this work to revamp traffic could not lack a bike lane. Buenos Aires has been encouraging the use of the bike as a means of transport for several years already.
Nevertheless, we need to bear in mind the work was delayed more than 50 years since it was projected.
Undoubtedly, always faithful to the Argentine style, this project was surrounded by corruption. Truth is the work was allocated to the cousin of Mauricio Macri, who was president of Argentina at that time.
Paseo del Bajo Highlights
Among the most remarkable buildings that can be seen from the Paseo del Bajo we find: Casa Rosada, Palacio de Aduana, Libertador Building and Kirchner Cultural Center (AKA: CCK).
Also noteworthy is the new stairway that connects Paseo del Bajo with Puerto Madero. Besides, the view from Paseo del Bajo is amazing. From there, we could really appreciate Puerto Madero skyline.
The monuments there not only make the area more beautiful but also offer a cultural perspective, as they represent our identity. The most remarkable monuments are: Juana Azurduy, Juan Domingo Perón, Juan de Garay, William Brown.
Buildings
Casa Rosada
From Paseo del Bajo we can see the rear facade of the Casa Rosada. Casa Rosada is the government house, the seat of the national executive power. A symbol of Argentine politics and history.
Palacio de Aduana
This palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century following a French academicist architectural style. This imposing palace occupies the entire block where it is located.
Edificio Libertador
This building hosts the headquarters of the Defense Ministry. In 1950 it adopted the name of “Libertador”, after San Martín, our national hero. This was decided to commemorate the 100 anniversary of his death.
Actually, the building had been finished in 1943. True to its time, the architectural style was French academicism.
Centro Cultural Kirchner (CCK)
In order to host the Central Post Office, this building was built in 1928.
It was then the height of the Argentine agro-export model.
However, this impressive palace was abandoned for decades.
Until 2006, when the government decided to undertake the most important work for Argentina’s culture.
Today it is one of the largest cultural centers in the world. Its symphony hall competes with the halls with the best acoustics in the world.
Besides, this building has its political importance too. Eva Peron had there her office of the foundation that bore her name. This foundation assisted millions of children, women and homeless families.
Stairway to Puerto Madero
This Paseo del Bajo project included the construction of a “stair-bridge” to connect Puerto Madero with the Paseo del Bajo promenade.
These steps are found just behind Casa Rosada and end a few steps away from Puente de la Mujer in Puerto Madero.
Thanks to this new connection, you could walk from Plaza de Mayo to Puerto Madero in just 5 minutes.
Monuments
Juana Azurduy
We find this monument in front of the CCK. Juana Azurduy is a South American independence heroine. She participated in the battlefield against the royalist troops.
The monument was a donation from the Bolivian government to the Argentine people to remember this heroine of South American history.
Juan Domingo Perón
His monument stands in the square right in front of Palacio de Aduana. Peron was elected president in Argentina 3 times. The political party that he founded back in the 1940s (Partido Justicialista) is still today the political party with the most popular support in the country.
Perón is internationally known for having been the husband of “Evita.”
Juan de Garay
We found the figure of Juan de Garay in the square next to the Casa Rosada.
Juan de Garay founded the City of Buenos Aires in 1580 as a representative of the Spanish crown.
William Brown
Another hero of South American independence has his monument in front of the CCK.
He was the first naturalized Argentinean Irish admiral and he is considered the father of the Argentine Navy.
His contribution was essential for the liberation of South America, promoting independence ideas and fighting in American waters to free them from the enemy.