Plazoleta Dr. Alfredo Rivas

Hidden within the bustling streets of San Cristobal, Plazoleta Dr. Alfredo Rivas offers a quiet respite. A small, triangular plaza, Plazoleta Dr. Alfredo Rivas is bordered by Avenida Chiclana and the streets of Esteban de Luca and Pavón. But this tranquil space holds a secret, a story etched in bronze. It’s a story not of Dr. Rivas himself, but of a towering figure of Uruguayan literature, Florencio Sánchez. Plazoleta Dr. Alfredo Rivas is home to a monument dedicated to this influential playwright and journalist. Erected in 1931, the bronze statue of Sánchez originally stood at the intersection of Chiclana and Deán Funes. It journeyed from there to the storage rooms of the Monumentos y Obras de Arte (MOA) during renovations on Chiclana. Then, at the request of Mayor Saturnino Montero Ruiz, it found a temporary home under the marquee of the Teatro General San Martín. Finally, in 1974, it settled in its current location in Plazoleta Dr. Alfredo Rivas. The statue, standing approximately three meters tall, depicts Sánchez in a characteristic pose, atop a sturdy masonry base. A plaque at the base commemorates Sánchez’s life and work, highlighting his role as a pioneer of Rioplatense theater and his deep social commitment. So, as you stand in Plazoleta Dr. Alfredo Rivas, take a moment to appreciate not just the tranquility of the space but also the artistic and historical significance it holds. It’s a tribute to both Dr. Alfredo Rivas, the physician and politician, and Florencio Sánchez, the literary giant whose words continue to resonate. The plaza, a quiet corner in San Cristobal, serves as a stage for a silent dialogue between these two figures, their stories intertwined in the heart of Buenos Aires.