At the western end of Av de Mayo lies Plaza del Congreso, often dotted with cooing pigeons and families feeding them. The Monumento a los Dos Congresos honors the congresses of 1810 in Buenos Aires and 1816 in Tucumán, both of which led to Argentine independence. The enormous granite steps symbolize the high Andes, and the fountain at its base represents the Atlantic Ocean. West of the plaza is the colossal green-domed Palacio del Congreso (Congress building).
Costing more than twice its projected budget, the Palacio del Congreso set a precedent for contemporary Argentine public-works projects. Modeled on the Capitol in Washington, DC, and topped by an 85m dome, the palace was completed in 1906. Inside the Congreso, there are free guided tours in English and Spanish. Go to the entrance at Hipólito Yrigoyen 1849; bring photo ID.
