Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires

The Plaza San Martin is a tranquil park in the heart of Buenos Aires. It lies at the northern end of the busy pedestrian shopping street called Florida Street and is surrounded by many of the city’s skyscrapers.

The red marble and bronze equestrian statue of General Jose de San Martin who is regarded as the father of Argentina stands in the Plaza San Martin. The statue was sculpted by French artist Louis Joseph Daumas and erected in 1862. The statue depicts the different stages in the life of the general and the battles he fought to attain independence for Argentina. In 1878, the park was named after him on his 100th birth anniversary. It was designed by British architect Edward Taylor and Argentine architect, Jose Canale in 1883 and French architect Carlos Thays gave the park its current form in 1889.

The Plaza San Martin was once surrounded by the houses of some of the wealthiest families in Buenos Aires. It has more than 350 species of trees including Gameros, Jacarandas, Borrachos, Tilos and Palos. Visitors and locals flock to the park between September and November when most of the trees are in full bloom. At one end is monument to the soldiers who died fighting for the Islas Malvinas or Falkland Islands during the Falklands War.