Palace of the Argentine National Congress, Legislative palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Palace of the Argentine National Congress is a public building in Buenos Aires that houses both chambers of the national legislature and features a copper-plated dome as its centerpiece. The structure combines neoclassical and Beaux-Arts design, with white limestone facades and elaborate sculptures adorning its entrances.
Construction began in 1898 under Italian architect Vittorio Meano and stretched across several decades as various artists and craftsmen contributed to its completion. The project reflected Argentina's growing importance as a nation and became a symbol of democratic institutions in the country.
The building is locally called Congreso or Palacio del Congreso, and the surrounding Balvanera area is known as the Congreso neighbourhood. Its ceremonial main door, the Entrada de Honor, is reserved for ceremonial use only. The bronze quadriga above it, made by Victor de Pol, weighs 20 tonnes and is driven by a figure of Liberty holding the reins.
The palace occupies a full block bounded by Rivadavia, Entre Ríos, Hipólito Yrigoyen and Combate de Los Pozos, in Balvanera on the edge of Monserrat. The main entrance, the Entrada de Honor, is reserved for ceremonies, so visitors approach the building from Congressional Plaza, laid out by Charles Thays, which faces it. The dome is lit on national holidays and special occasions.
The green dome, 80 metres high and weighing 3,000 tonnes, sits over a 10-metre-deep inverted dome foundation. It is lit on national holidays and special occasions. The bronze quadriga by Victor de Pol above the Honor Entrance weighs 20 tonnes and stands 8 metres tall, with Liberty holding the reins.
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