Torre de los Ingleses at dawn
The “Torre de los Ingleses” (Englishmen’s Tower) or “Torre Monumental” (Monumental Tower) was a gift given to the Buenos Aires city by the British immigrants in 1916, due to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the May’s Revolution. It is located at the center of the “Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina” (formerly known as Plaza Britannia).
Its architectural style is the Palladian, a very strong tendency in England by the end of the XVI century and time of the second foundation of Buenos Aires. All the supplies came from England, except the water and sand; “Portland” stones and cement were used as well as red bricks of the “Leicester” type.
It has 75,5 meters high, in 8 floors, its base has 280m² and each side is oriented to the cardinal points, being the entrance on the West side. The base also has 4 access stairs and its doors are decorated with freizes where triglyph and ornamented metopes are alternated with different emblems of the British Empire.
Above this details there are several shields of Argentina and Great Britain. The image below shows the lion and unicorn, symbols of England and Scotland, and the French saying “Dieu et mon droit”.
Freize’s detail
Due to maintenance reasons the public access is closed until 2009. Until 2006 it was possible to visit the terrace, which is 50m high at the same level of the tower’s clocks, making it possible to see a great panoramic view of the city. These clocks were made of British Opaline and have 4.4m of diameter. Above each quadrant there are 5 bells of bronze, and a full system that reproduces the sounds of the Westminster Abbey. The dome has an octagonal shape and is covered by copper sheets, on the top there is a “wind catcher” representing a three mast frigate.
Tower’s terrace
During the Falklands War between Argentina and Great Britain, the tower became a target of the insatisfaction of the Argentineans. At this time they changed its name to “Torre Monumental”, but today it is mostly known by its former name “Torre de los Ingleses”. We can see some spray painting like “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falklands belongs to Argentina) and spots of red paint thrown to its walls.
The Falklands War is still an open wound in the Argentina’s history. Each citizen has its own opinion and documentary movies are shown once in a while. The plead to incorporate its territory to the Argentinean sovereignty is still submitted to UN every year.
Graffitis over the monument
Where?
Plaza Fuerza Aerea Argentina | Avenida del Libertador y San Martin
sepphora | 2:19 pm | Retiro
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