Mothers of Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada

Although not exactly a tourist attraction, the protest of the Mothers of the Disappeared is an event not to be missed. During the 1970’s Dirty War, 30,000 innocent Argentines ‘disappeared’ at the hands of the military government. Although it is widely believed that they were all tortured and murdered, their remains, till this day, remain unknown. Worse, families of the disappeared have never been told of their loved ones’ whereabouts or what happened to them, despite numerous attempts. On Thursday, April 14, 1973, 14 mothers whose children disappeared marched in front of the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, in the Plaza de Mayo. The government ignored their pleas, affirming that their children simply moved to study abroad or left the country. Undeterred, the mothers continued to protest, wearing their symbolic white handkerchief. Little by little, their numbers grew and till today, they march every single Thursday, rain or shine, at 3:30 pm at the very same spot on Plaza de Mayo.

The backdrop to these protests is the famous Casa Rosada, or the ‘pink house.’ It is Argentina’s equivalent to the United States’ White House and equally as attractive. It is quite a feeling to see the balcony where Evita Peron once stood and addressed the people of Buenos Aires (and decades later Madonna, when she portrayed the famous first lady). Peron memorabilia can be seen at the Museo de la Casa Rosada, open Monday-Friday from 10am to 6pm, and Sundays, from 2pm-6pm. Tours are available on Sundays at 3pm and 4:30 pm.