Lost plazas whisper stories of Buenos Aires’ ever-changing cityscape. Today we explore the story of Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín. It is a space now woven into the city’s fabric. Yet its tale is one of both existence and erasure.
Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín was once a green space. It was located in the Retiro neighborhood. The plaza sat on Calle Posadas between Cerrito and Carlos Pellegrini. This was in a block of the Socorro area. These blocks were demolished between 1978 and 1980. This demolition was part of the extension of Avenida Nueve de Julio.
The plaza’s boundaries once included Pasaje Eguía to the south. To the north were the steps of Pasaje Seaver. Both passages have since disappeared. Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín was formed by joining vacant lots. It received its name by decree in 1953. The name honored Coronel Toribio Tedín. He was a military figure from Salta. He fought under Manuel Belgrano. He participated in the battles of Salta and Tucumán.
Interestingly Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín even played a role in Argentina’s cultural history. In the late 1960s, it became a gathering spot. Pioneers of national rock music frequented it. They even renamed it Plaza Chaplin. Miguel Abuelo, Pipo Lernoud, Pajarito Zaguri and Moris lived in a nearby boarding house.
The plaza also made its way onto the silver screen. The movie “Las turistas quieren guerra” featured scenes filmed here.
Despite its disappearance the memory of Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín lives on. The historian Félix Luna fondly remembers it. The “plazoleta empinada balconeando la calle Posadas” holds a central place in the novel Rumble.
Today some trees from the original Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín still survive. An ombú tree stands in a flower bed on Avenida Nueve de Julio. This section of the avenue, between Arroyo and Posadas, was named Plazoleta Coronel Toribio Tedín in 1986. This small green space serves as a living reminder of the lost plaza. It connects the past with the present.
As we stand here let’s reflect on the stories that places hold. Plaza Coronel Toribio Tedín may be gone. But its memory endures. It reminds us of the ever-evolving nature of cities. It highlights the importance of remembering what once was.