Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument
Plaza Italia is a small square on Palermo district, next to the Jardín Zoológico, Jardín Botánico, Subte, Sociedad Rural Argentina, bus stops and Parques de Palermo. It is on Santa Fe Avenue, on a central island of a traffic circle that also receives the Las Heras Avenue and Sarmiento Avenue. Its surrounding is very crowded, but the square seems to be only a walking way to thousands of hurried people.
The monument of the Plaza Italia was a donation of the Italian residents to the city of Buenos Aires, inaugurated on June 19, 1904. It was made by the Italian sculptor Eugenio Maccagnani as a replica of the one located in Brescia, Italy. It shows Giuseppe Garibaldi over his horse, with his sword pointing towards the sky, as the legendary “hero” figure. On each side below the horse, there is a statue (3,5 meters high), representing the Victory and Freedom.
In the center, below the horse, there is a stepped relief in bronze poured in Rome, representing the “San Antonio de Salto Battle“: In February 8, 1846, Garibaldi was fighting for Montevideo, Uruguay, for the Italian flag, and won an army with much more soldiers. The composition shows the hero on the center and two clusters of soldiers on each side. The scenery’s border is done by a village where the legionaries were hidden and by the tall palm trees of the region. The drama shown highlights the battle.
San Antonio de Salto Battle relief
Garibaldi (1807-1882) is considered to be the biggest Italian hero. A militar and political leader who helped the independency process of Uruguay, battled on the “Guerra dos Farrapos” (Brazil), fought for the Italian unification against the Austrian army as well as for the Second War for the Independecy of Italy, also defended France on the Franco-prussian war. His dedication to the battles made him world wide famous, and several monuments, besides this one at Plaza Italia, can be seen in places like New York/USA, Taganrog/Russia, Budapeste /Hungary, Porto Alegre/Brazil and in several Italian cities.
Where?
Intersection of Santa Fe, Las Heras and Sarmiento Avenues
sepphora | May 4, 2008 | 5:32 pm | Palermo
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