Confiteria El Molino
Located next to the Palacio de Congreso, Confiteria Molino has an interesting story. I had seen this interesting, historical building before but did not know the story behind it.
Until I went on a tour with BAnecdoTour.
Molino means “mill” in Spanish. This cafe used to be located a block away. The original construction used to be next to a flour mill, which is where it got its name. It was torn down when the Plaza del Congreso was built. In 1915, Italian architect Francisco Gianotti was commissioned to design the new building that would house the cafe on the ground floor. Many pieces were shipped from Italy, including stained glass and marble, to build this Art Noveau masterpiece.
Confiteria El Molino became a favorite meeting spot for elite intellectuals, businessmen, and politicians.
A mysterious fire closed the building in 1997. Even though it has been declared a National Monument, the building has fallen into a terrible state and has been taken over by squatters. So far, no efforts at restoration have begun.
A fun fact I learned from BAnecdoTour….
Madonna filmed a music video here.
You know, before she became British.
Check out BAnecdoTour!
This was one of the “semi-mainstream” stops during my tour with BAnecdoTour. The name of the company comes from the word anecdote. By weaving in stories and myths about the significant sites and historical figures of Buenos Aires, this company has created a fun and engaging way to explore the city and learn about the history and culture.
The tour is a 50/50 mix of hitting some of the top tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-path spots.
One of the things I really liked about the tour with BAnecdoTour is that the guides have a great book filled with old photos of many of the sites. It makes it a lot easier to imagine what the city looked like many years ago.
If you enjoy intriguing stories involving crime, love, murder, and mystery, this is a great alternative city tour. The guides have done their research and know stories most Porteños have never heard, and they provide surprises and treats along the way.
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I think I was right across the street from it! Some of this story sounds familiar but some of the info is new to me. I think it’s a great idea to mix the “musts” with “off the beaten track”.
Ayelet – All Colores recently posted..Video of the Week: 5 Minutes of Buenos Aires Sights
It’s an interesting building in a highly trafficked area, but I didn’t learn the story behind this building until I took a tour.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Eating My Way Through BA Part 5: Cubierto is Mala Onda
I like the idea of the old book of photos. I think it adds something special to see the city as it once was. It’s too bad they aren’t working to restore that building, it looks like it would be gorgeous.
Lisa recently posted..Tajikistan Tea Room in Berlin
It definitely adds a lot to the tour. So hard to imagine what things looked like 50+ years ago.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Eating My Way Through BA Part 5: Cubierto is Mala Onda
Great shot, love the darkened corners!
Ryan at Travel and Graphs recently posted..My Juvenile Impressions of Salt Lake City, and Mark Twain’s Too!
Sounds like a great way to learn about local sights! Interesting building and picture.
I really like the concept. There are so many city tours in Buenos Aires, and I like this take on the history.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Eating My Way Through BA Part 6: Porteña Gourmet