Argentina Guide
The Litoral and the Gran Chaco
Monumento a la Bandera
Your first sight of the Monumento a la Bandera (aside from its picture on the ten-peso note) is likely to be through the gap between the cathedral and the Palacio de los Leones, from where the Pasaje Juramento, lined with marble figures by the great sculptress Lola Mora, leads down to the monument itself. Finished in 1957 under the direction of architect Ángel Guido, the Monumento a la Bandera is basically a huge allegorical sculpture based on the idea of a ship (representing Argentina) sailing towards a glorious future. General Manuel Belgrano "created" the flag in the city in 1812, and Rosario enjoys the official title of "Cuna de la Bandera" (Cradle of the Flag). The country's major Flag Day celebrations are held at the monument on June 20 each year; for the fiftieth anniversary in 2007 a strong contender for the world's longest official flag – thirteen kilometres of blue and white cloth – was unfurled in the presence of President Kirchner.