Strolling along Avenida 9 de Julio and taking a photograph with the Obelisco in the background is an almost obligatory ritual for any visitor; however, very few have the privilege of discovering what lies inside it. This giant is not just a monument to be admired from the street, at its top it becomes the most coveted panoramic viewpoint in Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Reaching its viewpoint platform is an experience that goes far beyond sightseeing, allowing visitors to contemplate the City's from a truly privileged vantage point.
Stories and curiosities of a concrete giant
Located at the intersection of Corrientes and 9 de Julio avenues, this national historic monument is a remarkable feat of engineering, standing 67.5 metres tall. It was inaugurated in 1936 to commemorate the fourth centenary of the City’s first foundation.
The project was designed by architect Alberto Prebisch, whose team completed the construction in just 31 days. Its original cladding was made of white stone from Córdoba, later replaced with painted plaster to make maintenance easier in the face of urban wear and tear.
The monument’s site is steeped in history. The church of San Nicolás de Bari once stood here, before being demolished to make way for the avenue and it was from that church tower that the Argentine flag was raised for the first time in Ciudad de Buenos Aires in 1812. Around the base of the Obelisco, several commemorative plaques bear witness to these milestones and complement what is inscribed on each of its four sides: each one recalls a different event, including the two foundations of the City's , its federalisation and the aforementioned raising of the flag.
Views from the top: the City at 67 metres high
What was once an adventure reserved for a privileged few, is now an open invitation to discover the City's. Access to the Mirador del Obelisco, which historically required climbing a straight iron staircase of 206 steps inside the concrete shaft, has now changed.
The experience begins by climbing eight steps to the internal lift, one side of which is glazed, allowing visitors to appreciate the scale and magnitude of the internal structure as the lift rises to level 55. The ride takes barely a minute and ends with a final spiral staircase of 35 steps.
After that, you reach the top, 67,5 metres high. The experience is enriched by a historical and cultural narration about the monument.
At the top is the viewpoint platform, a small room with four rectangular windows, strategically oriented towards the four cardinal points, from which to admire Ciudad de Buenos Aires in all its splendour.
To the north and south, Avenida 9 de Julio stretches out, revealing the Metrobus lanes and emblematic buildings such as the Ministerio de Desarrollo Social, with its Eva Perón murals. To the east and west, Avenida Corrientes
traces its brightly lit course. From this unique height you can even spot the famous "Chalecito" of the Díaz furniture shop, a small house built on the terrace of a neighbouring building, one of the many architectural curiosities that the City's hides above the skyline.
Please note that the minimum age to go up is 4 years old and that, due to technical and safety reasons, the viewpoint is not accessible to wheelchairs or people with reduced mobility.
If you want to see the Capital from every angle, climbing to the top of the Obelisco is a visit not to be missed. This revamped experience turns this iconic Buenos Aires' landmark into far more than a postcard to admire from the street; from the top you can take in the City's ’s vastness from a privileged vantage point. Do not miss the opportunity to admire the City from a different perspective: get ready for views that, we guarantee, will take your breath away.