Palacio de los Leones, Municipal palace in Rosario, Argentina

The Palacio de los Leones is Rosario's municipal palace, built by architect Gaetano Rezzara in a neo-Renaissance Italian style. Its facade shows the rounded corners, semicircular-arch openings, oculi and balconies typical of northern Italian Renaissance design, and it wraps around a central courtyard with arcades and Ionic columns.

The building was designed by architect Gaetano Rezzara and opened in 1898, giving Rosario a permanent municipal seat after decades without one. The city's local government had operated without a dedicated base since 1858.

The two lions flanking the main stairway are casts of the lions on the steps of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa, Italy. They were donated by Rosario mayor Agustín Mazza, who had them decorating his family's country house before they were moved here. In 2006 the lions were painted white and the right-hand one was restored.

The building sits at the corner of Buenos Aires and Santa Fe streets, right on Plaza 25 de Mayo, making it easy to reach on foot from the city center. As it houses the main municipal offices, some areas are open to visitors while others remain restricted.

The terra cotta colored walls of the palace create a sharp contrast with the white lion sculptures out front, making the building easy to spot from a distance. The lions themselves were donated by Mayor Agustín Mazza from his family estate.