The Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires is the geographical and political focal point of the city. Named after the May, 1810 revolution that led to the country’s independence from Spain, the city’s grandest avenues and boulevards span out from it, and flanking the plaza’s landscaped, green centre are the seats of the country’s power, both past and present. The Plaza de Mayo is the scene of the country’s greatest and not-so greatest moments, and most days you’ll find a group of protesters here, exercising their right to be heard at the heart of the nation. Most famously, Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo have been keeping vigil here for over 30 years in an epic, and widely praised attempt to track down and identify children who disappeared’ during the 1976-1982 dictatorship. (They can be seen wearing their familiar white shawls every Thursday afternoon). On approach to the Plaza de Mayo, eyes are immediately drawn to the Italianate Casa Rosada (or the ‘pink house’), the offices of the president and museum containing a vast array of artefacts on the city’s history. (It was the from the casa’s grand balcony that Evita Perón made her famous farewell speech, immortalised in the ...