Tour the offices of Argentina’s president in the Casa Rosada (Pink House). Since the 1860s, this vibrantly pink palace has served as the headquarters of Argentina’s executive government. Admire the palace’s unlikely paint job, learn about the history of Argentine politics in the on-site museum and see inside the president’s office.
Casa Rosada’s shocking salmon-pink colour has made it one of Argentina’s most famous buildings. Make sure to see the building by night, when its façade is made to look even stranger in the glow of neon pink floodlights. No one is certain how the building came to be painted this colour. Some say that a former president chose pink since it was a mixture of the colours of Argentina’s two political parties in the late 19th century. Others claim that the building was painted in cow blood, which was once commonly used as paint, and turned pink when dry.
See the presidential offices within the Casa Rosada on a free guided tour. The president’s office is scattered with Argentine art, and it features a balcony that looks down onto Plaza de Mayo. Famous and infamous Argentine leaders, such as Eva Perón and dictator Leopoldo Galtieri, made speeches from this balcony. Look out onto Plaza de Mayo and imagine it covered with Argentine citizens gathered to hear their leader.
Next to the Casa Rosada stands the Museo del Bicentenario (Bicentennial Museum), which is held in the building that served as Buenos Aires’ customs house through the end of the 19th century. Artworks, artefacts and informational displays tell the story of Argentina from the 1810 May Revolution to the independent country’s bicentenary in 2010. Look for Ejercisio Plastico, a cave-like 360-degree mural by famous Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Located on Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires’ main square, the Casa Rosada is easily accessible on foot or by public transport from the city centre. Visit on weekends or public holidays for a guided tour, which is available in English and will last around 1 hour. The museum is open from Wednesday through Sunday and has no admission fee.
