The painted dome
Large murals.
Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Balou46 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rodrigo Galindez from Córdoba, Argentina — CC BY 2.0 · Ariela Quiero — CC BY-SA 4.0
Galerías Pacífico is a Beaux-Arts building on pedestrian Florida Street, designed by the architects Emilio Agrelo and Roland Le Vacher in 1889 as a department store modelled on Le Bon Marché in Paris. In 1896 part of it became the first home of the National Museum of Fine Arts, and in 1908 the British-owned Buenos Aires and Pacific railway bought part of it for offices, which gave it the name Edificio Pacífico. Its finest feature is the central dome, decorated with large murals painted by leading Argentine artists in the mid-20th century and seen from the surrounding floors. Today it is a shopping centre with shops and cafés, and a cultural centre upstairs hosts exhibitions. Entry is free during shop hours. It makes a pleasant stop on a walk down Florida Street, especially on a hot or rainy day.
Large murals.
Pedestrian.
Upstairs.
Florida Street at Avenida Córdoba, central Buenos Aires
Obelisco de Buenos AiresThe Obelisco is the symbol of Buenos Aires, a white obelisk 67.5 metres high whe10 minutes walk4.5
Teatro ColónThe Teatro Colón is Buenos Aires's great opera house and one of the finest-sound10 minutes walk4.7
Plaza de Mayo and the Casa RosadaPlaza de Mayo is the main square of Buenos Aires and its historic heart since th13 minutes walk4.5
Cabildo of Buenos AiresThe Cabildo is a white arcaded building with a small tower facing Plaza de Mayo.13 minutes walk4.7
Café TortoniCafé Tortoni is Buenos Aires' oldest and best-known café, opened in 1858 by a Fr14 minutes walk4.6The central dome with its large murals, the historic building itself, and exhibitions in the cultural centre upstairs.