MONUMENTS, BUSTS AND FOUNTAINS
Visit several landmarks scattered around parks and squares of the city. They offer a different perspective of Bahía Blanca history and enlighten visitors about their significance.
MONUMENTO A LA MUJER | MONUMENT TO THE WOMEN | Linear Walk | Florida & Guido Spano St.
The monument is located in the homonymous square. It was designed and built in 1999 by the artist Maria Aráoz, as a memorial to women and their role in society facing the new century. The author asserts that the monument represents the balance between “body, mind and spirit” that portrays “the ideals of family”.
MONUMENTO A LOS VETERANOS BAHIENSES CAÍDOS EN MALVINAS | MONUMENT TO THE FALLEN VETERANS OF BAHÍA BLANCA IN THE MALVINAS WAR | Linear Walk | Alfonsina Storni and La Falda
The monument is a cenotaph inaugurated on April 2, 2005, designed and built by request of the Malvinas Veterans Group. It fulfills the desire for remembrance and to tribute those soldiers who died in war. It comprises 15 plaques on a semicircular wall: words of appreciation can be read on the center plaque, and the other 14 show the full names and war roles of the fallen citizens. On a metallic plaque, elevated from the center up to the sky, the island’s silhouettes are traced along with the phrase “y juraron con gloria a morir” (“and they vowed to die with glory”, which alludes to the Argentine national anthem).
On April 2, 2009, a row of panels was installed along the public promenade. On these illuminated billboards you can find the individual photos of each of the 23 fallen veterans.
MONUMENTO AL DR. CESAR MILSTEIN | MONUMENT TO DR. CESAR MILSTEIN MONUMENT | Linear Walk | Rosario and Cuyo
The 1984 Nobel Prize of Medicine winner Dr. Milstein was born in this city. He is considered one of the most prestigious Argentine scientists, and is remembered with this unique and creative monument that allows visitors to interact with it.
It is comprised of a big red circular shape held up to the sky by seven contorted columns, representing a microscope. On every 24th of March -Dr Milstein’s date of death- you can get into the monument and, due to the inclination of the upper ring, appreciate the Crux constellation.
MONUMENTO A LA BATALLA VUELTA DE OBLIGADO |MONUMENT TO THE BATTLE VUELTA DE OBLIGADO | Linear Walk | Cuyo, Zelarrayán and Alberti streets.
It is located in the small square bearing the same name. The initiative began by a request of the Commission of Historic Reaffirmation and the Centre Brigadier General Juan Manuel de Rosas. In it, they asked to relocate the cannon settled on Plazoleta Garibaldi to a place that more effectively showcased its historical significance. By doing this, they honored those who defended our National Sovereignty in 1845, in Rio de la Plata at La Vuelta de Obligado, and in 1982, in the Malvinas War. The Plazoleta conveys the idea of sovereignty, since it is also located next to the Malvinas Memorial which reaffirms our permanent memory of the war conflict of 1982.
MONUMENTO BAHÍA BLANCA A SUS FUNDADORES | MONUMENT TO BAHÍA BLANCA FOUNDERS | Parque de Mayo | At the entrance of Parque de Mayo
Located on the main access street to the Park, it is an Asset of Artistic and National Historical Interest. It was inaugurated in 1931 by the well known national sculptor César Sforza. It recreates typical scenes of our region: El Rodeo, Los Estibadores, La Conquista del Desierto, and La Vida Campera. On the upper part a woman can be seen carrying the coat of arms, representing the Argentine Nation, twinned with a colonist, an immigrant and a soldier.
MONUMENTO A LA LOBA DE RÓMULO Y REMO | MONUMENT TO ROMULUS AND REMUS CAPITOLINE SHE-WOLF| Parque de Mayo | Inside of Parque de Mayo
Donated by the Italian community in 1978, in homage of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the city. It has a set of four stairs at its base and a platform where a pedestal and a Doric column are located. This column supports the statue of the founders of Rome at the top.
MONUMENTO DE LA COMUNIDAD SIRIO LIBANESA |MONUMENT OF THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE COMMUNITY| Parque de Mayo | Inside of Parque de Mayo
It is a pillar located in a small roundabout near the fitness trail, donated in 1929 for the centenary of the founding of the city. It served as both a decoration and a clock, which was later removed.
MONUMENTO A SAN MARTÍN | MONUMENT TO SAN MARTÍN | Parque de Mayo | Inside of Parque de Mayo
On May 25, 1910, this monument, which was the first one of the city, was inaugurated. In its base, there was a lead box that had been placed two days before. This box contained the richest and most varied material of the Centenary period. In 2010, it was removed as a legacy for the future generations. The statue was casted in the Campo de Mayo workshops and brought to our city by train. Its pedestal was designed by the architect Gregorio Salamandekov and its location in the park was questioned at the time as people thought it was far from the center.
MONUMENTO A BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA | MONUMENT TO BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA | Plaza Rivadavia | At the center of Plaza Rivadavia
Around 1910, there was a competition to provide the main square with a monument that paid special recognition to Bernardino Rivadavia. The intention was to be inaugurated within the framework of the Centennial celebrations of the Revolución de Mayo (first Argentine government). After several proposals and many difficulties, the project of Luis Rovatti was chosen and eventually inaugurated in 1946. The figure of Rivadavia is holding papers in his left hand, which represents his statesman role; underneath, there is a torch with a lit fire and the dates of his birth and death. At the top, it is possible to see a female figure extending an arm holding a loaf, which symbolizes the progress and the advances on agriculture. On both sides, in a decorative way, there are caryatids and atlanteans (female and male figures, respectively).
It was declared an Asset of National Artistic and Historical Interest.
MONUMENTO A LA COMUNIDAD SIRIO LIBANESA | MONUMENT TO THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE COMMUNITY | Plaza Rivadavia | Av. Colón e Yrigoyen
It was donated by the Israelite community in 1928 for the Centennial of the foundation of Bahía Blanca. The work of the sculptor Michael Yatvinsky pays tribute to Mauricio Hirsch, who donated part of his fortune to encourage the Israelite to come to the country looking for better life conditions. The monument has four sides with a bronze plaque, made by the Argentine sculptor Israel Hoffman. It symbolizes agriculture, industry and science. As a finishing touch, it has an ornamentation made by columns and a dome.
BUSTO A CARONTI | BUST TO CARONTI | Plaza Rivadavia | Alsina 64
The bust is located in front of the mast across the street from the Municipal tower, and depicts Caronti similar to Roman senators, holding a book.The sculpture was built by J. Vian, author of several works in the city. Caronti was paid homage because he was a hard-working citizen, an honest man, a high spirit of culture and an exemplary military man. He is also celebrated for his work as the president of the Student Council . He was the first native mayor of the city. In his will, he bequeathed his substantial wealth equally between Hospital Municipal and Biblioteca Pública Bernardino Rivadavia.
MONUMENTO A GARIBALDI | MONUMENT TO GARIBALDI| Plaza Garibaldi | Av. Alem and Alsina
It is a monument donated by the Italian Community as part of the celebrations of the city’s centenary. It was designed and built by artist Vasco Vian, and was inaugurated in 1928. During this ceremony, the Bahía Blanca Anthem was sung for the first time.
MONUMENTO A CACHI | MONUMENT TO CACHI | Plaza Payró | Av. Alem y Alsina
The sculpture is positioned in Plaza Payró, the place where this dog –who died in 2019– used to rest. It has a plaque that reads: “Cachirulo, tireless walker, friendly and an inspiration for the fight against abandonment and animal cruelty” and a QR code where this little animal and neighborhood friend’s story is summarized. The sculpture was built by Escuela de Artes Visuales and was managed by Movimiento Argentino de Protección Animal (MAPA).
MONUMENTO AL INMIGRANTE ÁRABE | MONUMENT TO THE ARAB IMMIGRANT | Plaza Bartolomé Mitre | Rivadavia y Alberdi
It is located between Rivadavia, Alberdi, Washington and Garibaldi Streets. In its center is the Monument to the Arab Immigrant, placed at the end of 1990 as an initiative of Miguel Takla, member of the Lebanese–Syrian Association.
The monument was built under the premise that Villa Mitre was “The Queen of Villages” and that its ¨crown¨ was missing. As a result of this, the monument was built in recognition to the neighborhood and to the immigrant communities that were part of it since the beginning.
Before the monument, there used to be a lamppost where the square paths crossroads, in a similar way to Plaza Rivadavia. The lamppost was moved to the playground once the fountain was placed.
MONUMENTO A EVA PERÓN | MONUMENT TO EVA PERÓN | Parque Eva Perón | Yrigoyen y Humboldt
It is a small, well preserved monolith located inside the park. It was built in 2002 by the Justicialist party of the city, and it features the quote “I will be back and we will be millions”, made famous by Eva Perón herself.
MONUMENTO A CRISTÓBAL COLÓN | MONUMENT TO CRISTÓBAL COLÓN | Plaza Colón | Colón 1800
The square is located at 1800 Avenida Colón, between Sáenz Peña and O’Higgins Streets. It is an ideal place to enjoy the wide green landscape, since it is surrounded by trees. In its center, an iron globe above a white concrete conical column can be seen. The square also has a bikeway, a fitness trail and benches.
ESTATUA DE CARLOS GARDEL | STATUE OF CARLOS GARDEL | Café Miravalles | Av. Cerri 777
It is a scale figure statue of Gardel sitting on a bench. In 2011, it was located at the door of Hotel Muñíz, where he stayed when he performed in -what used to be- “El Palacio del Cine”, in 1930 and 1933. After several acts of vandalism, it was decided to move the figure to the traditional Café Miravalles.
FUENTE DE LOS INGLESES | FOUNTAIN OF THE ENGLISH| Plaza Rivadavia | Estomba y Av. Colón
The fountain was a gift from the English Community on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city. The city’s progress is represented through the four elements of the pyramid: navigation and the railroad, provided by immigrants; and agriculture and cattle, from national origin. The fountain is made of carrara marble, it has a trefoil base and an obelisk as a finial. The fountain is framed by four small street lights. At the center of the fountain you could see a child from which water emanated. A fascinating fact about its design is that the representation of each face of the obelisk is oriented towards the physical places of the activities represented: the locomotor is oriented towards the railroad station, the ship to the port, and so on.
FUENTE LOLA MORA | FOUNTAIN TO LOLA MORA| Universidad Nacional del Sur | Av. Alem 1253
The fountain is situated in front of the local university, Universidad Nacional del Sur. It was inaugurated on December 18th, 1978. This work was donated by Zunilda P., López Francés’ widow, one of the great founding members of the university. The central piece is from an unknown author. In its sides, it is complemented by carrara marble roses, made by the sculptress Lola Mora, who was from Tucumán.
FUENTE BEBEDERO | DRINKING FOUNTAIN | Estación Sud | Av. Cerri y Brandsen
The fountain is situated in a small traffic circle near the railway station “Estación de Ferrocarriles Sud”. It was used as a water fountain for the horses of the “carreros” and “mateos”, transporters of loads and drivers of carriage. These drivers waited for their passengers at the railway station at the intersection of Brandsen, Darwin streets and Cerri Avenue. The fountain was regained in 1999 and reconstructed as an ornamental fountain.
