The concrete block
Raised over a park.
Leandro Kibisz — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Senorain09 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Palanquis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Martín A. Aurand — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mariano Moreno National Library is Argentina's most important deposit library, created by the first national government on 13 September 1810 as the Public Library of Buenos Aires, the first public library founded by the state outside religious institutions. Among its best-known directors was the writer Jorge Luis Borges, from 1955 to 1973. Its current home in Recoleta is one of Latin America's landmark brutalist buildings: a massive concrete block raised on columns above a park, designed by the architects Clorindo Testa, Francisco Bullrich and Alicia Cazzaniga, opened in 1992 after decades of construction and now a National Historic Monument. Guided tours are free with no booking: Monday to Friday at 12:00 and Saturday at 14:00 and 16:00, lasting about ninety minutes. Just arrive in the entrance hall a few minutes early.
Raised over a park.
City views.
The library's director.
Agüero 2502, Recoleta, Buenos Aires
National Museum of Decorative Art (Palacio Errázuriz)The National Museum of Decorative Art fills the Palacio Errázuriz, one of Buenos4 minutes walk4.6
National Museum of Fine ArtsThe National Museum of Fine Arts is Argentina's leading art museum. It opened on6 minutes walk4.7
Floralis GenéricaFloralis Genérica is a giant flower sculpture of steel and aluminium, 23 metres 6 minutes walk4.8
Recoleta CemeteryRecoleta Cemetery is one of the best-known sights in Buenos Aires. It opened on 7 minutes walk4.2
MALBA, Latin American Art MuseumMALBA, the Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires, opened on 21 September 20012 minutes walk4.5No. Tours are free and walk-in, Mon-Fri 12:00 and Sat 14:00 and 16:00; arrive in the hall a few minutes early.