Paz Palace

Paz Palace, at 750 Santa Fe Avenue in Buenos Aires, is a Beaux-Arts mansion now known as the Military Circle. A guided visit takes you through nine salons, with carved furniture, elaborate lamps and a gilded room among the details to look for. The palace was built for José C. Paz, a politician and newspaper owner, and completed in 1914. Tours explain the rooms and their history; afterward, you can stop at the Croque Madame café inside the building.

A French-inspired mansion

Paz Palace was commissioned by José C. Paz, a politician and journalist who owned the newspaper La Prensa. Built in the Beaux-Arts style and completed in 1914, it was the largest private residence in Buenos Aires at the time. Its design followed French architectural fashion, and the building was made with materials from France.

The mansion has three wings and an internal garden. It later passed into government hands in 1935 and became the Military Circle. The palace is also known as Palacio Retiro and has held National Historic-Artistic Monument status since 2014.

The salons and guided visit

A guided tour moves through nine salons and explains the history and significance of each room. Look closely at the carved furniture and large lamps, as well as the gilded room and French design details. The tour is the main way to learn about the palace’s architecture and its original use as a private residence.

Most tour information is given in Spanish, so a translation app or guidebook can help if you do not speak the language. Tours require advance reservations. After your visit, Croque Madame café is inside the palace; the building also hosts Saturday night tango shows with live music and dancers.