Street closures for the Pope's visit: Palermo and Recoleta.

Palermo closures around the stage

Pope Leo XIV will visit Argentina from Sunday, November 8 to Wednesday, November 11, and traffic in Palermo already feels it. Clarín reports two separate operations: one next to the stage at the Monumento a los Españoles and another, more closed off, around the Apostolic Nunciature in Recoleta.

The stage is going up at the crossing of Libertador and Sarmiento. The work has caused traffic jams, especially at rush hour, on Libertador and on Figueroa Alcorta. For now a partial closure is in place, leaving two lanes in each direction. Earlier there was a full closure between Colombia and Sarmiento.

The assembly is almost complete. Between Tuesday and Wednesday the roof of the structure was put in place, and it will host the main event on Monday the 9th and a gathering with young people on Tuesday the 10th at night.

Which streets close from Wednesday the 4th

The next stage begins in the early hours of Wednesday, November 4. From then on, full closures begin, section by section, on Libertador between Olleros and Ugarteche. They last until Saturday the 14th, when the visit is over and the structures have been taken down.

The affected area is larger than the surroundings of the monument. The perimeter released by the City runs from Scalabrini Ortiz to Mariscal Sucre, and from Santa Fe and Luis María Campos to Figueroa Alcorta. Closures and detours may change as the operation moves forward.

If you have to cross Palermo on those days, think of alternative routes and expect delays, especially when leaving toward the northern part of the City or toward Greater Buenos Aires. The best thing is to avoid the area if you can and check traffic changes before leaving.

Recoleta: full restriction next to the Nunciature

The second operation surrounds the Apostolic Nunciature, located at Alvear 1600, where the pope will sleep. From noon on Saturday the 7th until the afternoon of Wednesday the 11th, no vehicle will be able to circulate in the area enclosed by Libertador and Callao and the streets Quintana, Juncal and Cerrito.

There will be police checkpoints. Only those who live in the area, have a business, work there or stay in hotels will get through. Entry and exit will be possible only through two corners: Callao with Quintana and Libertad with Quintana.

Residents must take their cars out before noon on Saturday the 7th. They are allowed to leave them diagonally, at 45 degrees, on the right-hand side of Callao, between Vicente López and Libertad, or on Libertador toward Retiro, between Libertad and Callao. Cars left inside will be towed to the grounds of the Facultad de Derecho, and owners will pay nothing.

While the operation lasts, the garages of the buildings in the area will be closed for entering and leaving. It is wise to plan your movements ahead of time.

How to prove your right of entry

To get through, residents must show an ID card whose address matches the entry point. If the document is not up to date, an identification badge issued by the city government works; shopkeepers and workers can also request it.

It is picked up at Sede Comunal 2 (Vicente López 2050) between Monday, November 2 and Friday the 6th, from 8 to 16, or at a desk set up at Rodríguez Peña and Alvear, from Monday the 2nd to Wednesday the 4th, from 16 to 20. They ask for a bill for a service at the address: ABL, building fees, water or electricity.

Businesses and offices must prove their activity with their license, service paperwork or ARCA proof of registration. Workers may show a pay slip, an invoice or proof of employment registration. Those staying in hotels must bring the reservation.

For supplies, suppliers will have specific hours between Saturday the 7th and Wednesday the 11th, which Clarín details day by day. Separately, garbage containers will be moved and some bus lines will change their routes.

What changes for you

If you live or work in Recoleta, inside the perimeter of Libertador, Callao, Quintana, Juncal and Cerrito, take your car out before noon on Saturday the 7th and keep your ID with your address or the city badge at hand. If you cannot use your ID, pick up the badge at Vicente López 2050 until Friday the 6th, from 8 to 16.

If you drive through Palermo, expect delays on Libertador and on Figueroa Alcorta, and full closures between Olleros and Ugarteche from the early hours of Wednesday the 4th. According to Clarín, some bus lines will change their routes, and the City said the closures may be updated.