Once South America’s tallest building, this strange office building still features some of Buenos Aires’ best aerial views.
Visit the Palacio Borolo and discover one of the quirkiest buildings in the city. With a huge tower rippling with wavy lines and a giant façade covered in bulging windows, Palacio Borolo looks like no other structure. Study the palace’s eccentric façade, tour the Divine Comedy-themed interior and climb up into the tower to reach one of the highest viewpoints of Buenos Aires.
When Palacio Barolo’s 100-metre (328-foot) tower was completed in 1928, it was the tallest structure in South America. Today, the palace is not even the tallest building in Buenos Aires, but it is still impressive. Luis Barolo, the building’s namesake, commissioned the architect Mario Palanti to design the building as an homage to the Divine Comedy, Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s epic poem about heaven, hell and purgatory. As you tour the building, look for references to this classic work.
Outside, the building mixes styles as varied as neo-romantic, Asian-Indian revival and art nouveau. Inside, the building is just as unique. The lobby, representing hell, features demons and dragons on the walls and a fire-patterned floor.
Today, offices take up most of the Palacio Barolo. Still, you can see a sample of the interior on a 45-minute guided tour, which is offered on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Walk up one of the spiral staircases or take an elevator to the rooftop lighthouse, which features a cupola built in a Hindu style. Here, you can enjoy one of the city’s best views. Look west to the grand Argentine National Congress building.
Get a free glass of wine on a nighttime tour of the palace, which is offered Wednesday to Saturday. Check the Palacio Barolo’s website for a complete schedule of tours.
Palacio Barolo is located on the Avenue de Mayo between the Argentine National Congress and the Avenue de 9 Julio. Reach the palace on foot or via bus or metro from anywhere in the city centre.
Entry to the Palacio Barolo is free of charge, although you must purchase a ticket at the front desk to join a guided tour of the building.
