Plaza de la Republica (Republic Square), Buenos Aires

Republic Square is a major urban plaza in Buenos Aires. The square’s name and history recall the former Saint Nicolás de Bari Church, which once stood here until it was demolished in the 1930s to make way for the construction of 9th of July Avenue. This was also the site where the Argentine flag was first hoisted.

The plaza’s focal point is the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, designed by architect Alberto Prebisch and inaugurated in 1937. When first created, the square featured a circular stone esplanade. In 1962, the plaza was enlarged to its current size, and in 1971 the layout took on its modern form when Corrientes Avenue was redirected around the obelisk to ease traffic heading toward the city’s financial district.

Today, Republic Square is surrounded by cafes, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops, remaining a lively gathering place for locals and visitors alike, especially in the evenings when the bright lights of the Corrientes theater district transform the area into one of the city’s most energetic hubs. The plaza is also a traditional site for public celebrations, football victories, and political demonstrations.