Plazoleta Carlos Pellegrini

Description:

• This is one of the most beautiful of all the small plazas in Buenos Aires -- not just for the plaza itself, but for what surrounds it. This is the most Parisian-appearing part of Recoleta, due in large part to the ornate Belle Epoque French Embassy presiding over it. The Brazilian Embassy, another beautiful building in a former mansion once owned by the Pereda family, also overlooks the plaza. A large statue of President Carlos Pellegrini sits in the center of the plaza. It was created in France by Félix Coutan and dedicated in 1914. A small fountain and a bench add to the relaxed environment. Nearby are several other mansions, including the Louis XIII-style "La Mansion," which is part of the Four Seasons, and the Palacio Duhau, which forms the entrance to the new Park Hyatt. The park is the terminus of the Avenida Alvear, the city's most exclusive shopping street, close to where it hits Avenida 9 de Julio. The collection of intact buildings here will give you an idea as to the beauty that was lost in Buenos Aires with the widening of Avenida 9 de Julio in the 1960s. In fact, demolition of the French Embassy, which France refused, was originally part of the plan. Thankfully, that, at least, never happened.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010