The building's height of 100 meters corresponds to the 100 cantos of The Divine Comedy.
The central atrium's ground floor represents the entrance to the Underworld, featuring dragon-headed lamps.
The lighthouse at the summit was originally intended to communicate with a sister building, the Palacio Salvo in Montevideo.
The building's floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross.
It contains nine vaulted ceilings, symbolizing the nine circles of Hell.
The elevator system retains original brass doors and ornate, exposed cage designs.
The building was constructed during a time when Buenos Aires was nicknamed the Paris of South America.
The lighthouse rotates to illuminate the city center, marking special cultural events.
Palacio Barolo is a 22-story office building inspired by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, with its design segmented into Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Designed by Italian architect Mario Palanti and inaugurated in 1923, it was once the tallest building in South America. The structure features a unique lighthouse at the top that is visible from as far as Uruguay on clear nights. It combines Neoromantic and Neogothic architectural styles with ornate ironwork and glass decor. The building houses various private offices, law firms, and agencies, yet remains accessible for guided architectural tours. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1997. The tower serves as a metaphor for the cosmos, with the lighthouse representing the nine choirs of angels. Its construction used reinforced concrete, a pioneering technique for Argentine high-rises of that era.
From the ground floor looking straight up through the central atrium to capture the full architectural symmetry.
Book a guided tour in advance to access the upper floors and the lighthouse terrace, which are not open for general public wandering.
Bring a camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the verticality of the central atrium.
Check the weather forecast, as access to the outdoor terrace may be restricted during high winds or rain.
Do not attempt to walk into private office areas; stay strictly with the guided tour group to avoid security intervention.
Tours are unavailable on certain public holidays and may be restricted on weekends; always verify current operational status via the official website.
Business casual attire is recommended due to the building's status as an active office complex; maintain quiet voices in hallways to respect the tenants.
