Monserrat (Buenos Aires)
Montserrat Montserrat or is a district in the east of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It has 43,560 inhabitants (as of 2001) on an area of 2.2 km ², population density thus corresponds to 19,800 per km ².
Location
The district is bounded by the streets Avenida Rivadavia, Avenida Leandro N. Alem, Calle Bartolome Mitre, Avenida Rosales, Avenida La Rabida norte, Avenida Ingeniero Huergo, Calle Chile, Calle Piedras, Avenida Independencia and Avenida Entre Ríos. North of Monserrat is San Nicolás, east of Puerto Madero, San Telmo in the south and Constitucion and in western Balvanera.
History
The story of Monserrat dates back to the founding of Buenos Aires, as in 1580, the Spanish Adelantado Juan de Garay went there on land. First, there is a fort was built in 1594. 1608 Jesuits was a two- hectare property granted, was started on the 1686 with the construction of the church " San Ignacio ". Inaugurated in 1734, it is the oldest existing church in Buenos Aires. The church attached school and library was the best in colonial Buenos Aires and offered the only means a classical education. She was therefore popularly called " Manzana de las Luces " (House of the Enlightened ).
Other religious settled in Montserrat, including the Catalan Brotherhood of " Virgin of Montserrat ," according to the district in 1769 received its current name.
By the end of the 19th century did little in Monserrat. When around 1875 the economic recovery began in Argentina, however, the cobbled streets of Monserrat were not spared from the modernization. The system of docks in today's Puerto Madero, east of Monserrat led to the construction of the Paseo Colón, still an important thoroughfare. In 1884, the Plaza de Mayo was created, on which also the seat of the President of Argentina, the Casa Rosada stands. To create the Avenida de Mayo, many buildings have been torn from the colonial period, including parts of the Cabildo. But still the area is south of the Plaza de Mayo, the oldest part of Buenos Aires, only a few buildings are younger than 100 years.
1913 was opened on Avenida de Mayo, the first metro station from Buenos Aires.
Monserrat is the political center of Buenos Aires: At the Plaza de Mayo are the presidential palace, the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo and the Municipal Town Hall, just east of the Casa Rosada, the Parque Colón, the twenty -story Ministry of Defence is to be seen. The Plaza de Mayo is connected via the Avenida de Mayo to the Plaza del Congreso, site of the Congress Palace, where the Argentine Parliament is in session. While the Plaza del Congreso but still one of Monserrat, the Congress Palace is already in Balvanera, as the Avenida Entre Ríos both the Congress Palace separates from the Plaza, but also the two parts of the city.
Since 1950, the Avenida 9 de Julio runs through Monserrat. The western part of the district, previously inhabited by members of the middle class, became a district of the Boheme, while also becoming a popular residence for those who appreciate the proximity to the financial district in northern San Nicolás.
Its architectural richness and quiet narrow streets led since 1990, similar to the neighboring San Telmo, a new interest. Due to the numerous Spanish restaurants and facilities of the Spanish -born Argentines, such as clubs, Monserrat is associated with the Spanish tradition in Buenos Aires and is therefore attractive for tourists, both for cultural reasons as well as for its ambience. Even the famous Café Tortoni is located here. Also the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires is in Monserrat.