Rosario facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rosario
City & Municipality
Rosario-Victoria Bridge Rosario Board of Trade Palace of the Lions The Propylaeum National Flag Memorial Parish of Perpetual Help National University of Rosario Villa Hortensia
Flag Coat of arms Brandmark
Nickname(s):  "Birthplace of the Argentine Flag", "The Argentine Chicago"
Rosario Location in Santa Fe Province Show map of Santa Fe Province Rosario Location in Argentina Show map of Argentina Rosario Location in South America Show map of South America
Country	Argentina
Province	Santa Fe
Department	Rosario
Founded	1793
Districts	North, Center, South, Southwest, Northwest
Government
• Body	Municipalidad de Rosario
Area
• City	178.69 km2 (68.99 sq mi)
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Population  (2012 estimated)
• Density	6,680/km2 (17,300/sq mi)
• Urban	1,276,000
• Metro	1,613,041
Demonym(s)	Rosarían rosarino, -a
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
• Year	2023
• Total	$37.9 billion
• Per capita	$23,700
Time zone	UTC−3 (ART)
Post code	S2000
Area code	0341

Rosario is a large city in Argentina. It's located in the Santa Fe Province, about 300 km (186 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires. The city sits on the west bank of the Paraná River. Rosario is the third-biggest city in Argentina, after Buenos Aires and Cordoba. Its wider area, called Greater Rosario, has about 1.75 million people.

Rosario is known for its beautiful old buildings. You can see many neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco styles. It's also famous as the hometown of the amazing Argentine football player Lionel Messi.

This city is a very important port and a center for trains in Argentina. Ships can reach Rosario through the Paraná River. The port helps export many goods like wheat, corn, sugar, and meat. The Rosario-Victoria Bridge, built in 2004, connects Rosario with Victoria across the river. Rosario is key for farming trade in Argentina.

Unlike many other cities, Rosario doesn't have a specific person who founded it. The city's special protector is the "Virgin of the Rosary". Her feast day is October 7.

History of Rosario

Early Days and the Argentine Flag

Many people say Rosario was founded on October 7, 1793. Back then, it had only 457 people. It was officially declared a city on August 3, 1852. Before that, it was known as Pago de los Arroyos, meaning "land of the streams". This name came from the small rivers that flow into the Paraná River.

In 1689, Captain Luís Romero de Piñeda received land here from the Spanish king. Before the Spanish arrived, different indigenous peoples lived in this area. Some lived in missions set up by Franciscan friars. But these missions were later attacked by other tribes.

Romero de Piñeda started the first lasting settlement, an estancia (a large farm). In 1719, the Jesuits bought more land and started Estancia San Miguel. The area was very quiet and had no main ruler. It was managed from the provincial capital, Santa Fe.

In 1724, Santiago de Montenegro started another settlement. He built a mill and a small chapel. He also drew plans for a future town. He became the mayor in 1751.

A very important event happened here on February 27, 1812. General Manuel Belgrano raised the new Argentine flag for the very first time by the Paraná River. Because of this, Rosario is called the "Cradle of the Argentine Flag". The National Flag Memorial stands today to remember this moment.

Rosario in the 1800s

The province of Santa Fe faced many problems during the civil war in Argentina after 1820. Rosario grew slowly during this time. It was a small stop between Santa Fe city and Buenos Aires. In 1823, it became a "village". Charles Darwin visited in 1832 and called Rosario a "large town" with about 2,000 people.

In 1841, a rule stopped foreign ships from using the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. This closed the Port of Rosario to foreign trade.

On December 25, 1851, some local people and soldiers supported a different leader, Justo José de Urquiza. After Urquiza won a big battle, he asked for Rosario to become a city. On August 5, 1852, Rosario officially became a city.

Urquiza then opened the river for free international trade. This helped Rosario's economy and population grow very fast. By 1880, Rosario was Argentina's main port for exports. In the late 1800s, the city's population more than doubled. Many immigrants came from Europe. By 1887, about 40% of its 50,000 people were European immigrants. These new arrivals brought fresh ideas, making Rosario a more modern city.

Rosario was even suggested to be the capital of Argentina three times. But each time, the president said no. By 1926, Rosario had 407,000 people. Almost half of them were from other countries, many from Europe after World War I.

Modern History of Rosario

In 1969, workers and students protested against the government. This event was called the "Rosariazo". A few years later, in 1976, a military government took power. During this time, many people who disagreed with the government "disappeared". This sad period is known as the Dirty War.

Argentina became a democracy again in 1983. But in 1989, the country faced a huge economic problem called hyperinflation. This led to riots and looting in Rosario. In the 1990s, many factories in Rosario closed because of foreign competition. This caused high unemployment and poverty.

After Argentina's economy started to get better in 2001, Rosario also improved. More farm products were exported, which helped the city's economy. The Socialist Party has won the mayoral elections in Rosario since 1989. They have invested a lot in public projects and health care. In 2011, Mónica Fein became the first Socialist woman mayor in Argentina.

Historical Images

• 

  Mercado Sud (around 1903)

• 

  Palace of Justice (around 1905)

• 

  Hotel Savoy (around 1910)

• 

  San Martín Square (around 1920s)

• 

  Hipólito Yrigoyen on a train (1926)

• 

  Opening of the National Flag Memorial (1957)

Economy of Rosario

Rosario is a big economic center in Argentina. Its economy relies on services and factories. It has the second-largest urban economy in Argentina, after Buenos Aires.

The main industry is processing farm products. Factories in the north and south of Greater Rosario process things like oil. Rosario also makes 20% of Argentina's cars and 100% of the bodies for long-distance buses.

Other important industries include chemicals, paper, meat, and metalworks. Many big international companies like General Motors and Cargill have set up businesses in Rosario.

The main bank in Rosario is the Municipal Bank of Rosario. It helps small businesses and people with loans. The Rosario Board of Trade is where the country's largest market for grains and oilseeds is located. It also has the biggest futures exchange.

Rosario is also home to the Polo Tecnológico Rosario (PTR). This center focuses on new technologies like biotechnology, software development, and telecommunications. It helps create many jobs and is growing fast.

Culture in Rosario

Rosario is a lively city with many cultural activities. It has produced famous people in music, art, writing, and more.

Theaters and Museums

The city has several important theaters, like El Círculo, Sala Lavardén, and La Comedia. There are plans for a huge music center called Puerto de la Música by the Paraná River. If built, it would be one of the biggest in Latin America.

Rosario also has many museums. These include the Juan B. Castagnino Fine Arts Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rosario (MACRo), and the Dr. Julio Marc Provincial Historical Museum. The Dr. Ángel Gallardo Provincial Natural Sciences Museum was rebuilt and reopened in 2006.

The city also has a public astronomy center in Urquiza Park. It has an observatory and a planetarium.

Cultural Places to Visit

• Centro Cultural Roberto Fontanarrosa
• Centro Popular de la Memoria
• Centro Cultural Islas Malvinas
• Centro Cultural Estación Provincial
• Grupo Pasajes
• Centro de Cultura & Comunicación
• Centro Cultural El Núcleo
• Centro Cultural Los Hornos

Theaters to See Shows

• Teatro El Círculo
• Teatro La Comedia
• Teatro Auditorio Fundación
• Teatro Sala Lavardén
• Teatro Puerto de la Música
• Teatro Municipal Coliseo Podestá
• Anfiteatro Martín Fierro
• Teatro La Nonna
• Teatro La Hermandad del Princesa
• Sala 420
• Taller de Teatro de la UNLP
• Complejo "El Teatro"
• Teatro "La Lechuza"
• Teatro vorterix

Museums to Explore

• Dr. Julio Marc Provincial Historical Museum
• Dr. Ángel Gallardo Provincial Natural Sciences Museum
• Firma y Odilo Estévez Municipal Decorative Art Museum
• Juan B. Castagnino Fine Arts Museum
• Museo De Los Niños (in Alto Rosario shopping mall)
• Museo de Arte "Fra. Angélico"
• Municipal Museum of the City
• Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes
• Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes
• Museo de Arte "Fra. Angélico"
• Colección Dr. Emilio Azzarini
• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Rosario - MACRo
• Museo Histórico del Fuerte de la Ensenada de Barragán
• Museo y Archivo Dardo Rocha
• Museo Almafuerte
• Museo del Teatro Argentino
• Museo "José Juan Podestá"
• Museo de la Catedral
• Museo Internacional de Muñecos
• Museo del Automóvil – Colección Rau
• Museo del Tango Platense
• Museo Policial "Inspector Mayor Vesiroglos"
• Museo Histórico "Contralmirante Chalier" – Escuela Naval de Río Santiago
• Museo Histórico Militar "Tte. Julio A. Roca"
• Museo de la Memoria
• Complejo Astronómico Municipal

Cinemas to Watch Movies

• Cine El Cairo
• Cinema San Martín
• Cinema 8
• Cinema Center Bautista
• Cinema Paradiso
• Cinema Rocha
• Cine Select
• Espacio INCAA
• Cine Monumental
• Cine Madre Cabrini
• Showcase Cinemas
• Hoyts Cinemas
• Village Cinemas
• Cinema MarianoN

Horse Racing at the Hippodrome

The Independence Hippodrome opened in 1901 for horse races. It's a big part of the city's social life. It was the first place in Argentina to have night races with special lighting. There is also the Jockey Club de Rosario.

The racecourse has three tracks for different uses. The Main Track is 1,794 meters (5,886 feet) long and used for competitions. Two Assistant Tracks are used for training and special races.

The Hippodrome has different viewing areas, called tribunes. The Ex-Tribune Partners building is large and has a restaurant. The Professional-Tribune is for technical areas and officials. The Paddock-Tribune has a gambling area and a VIP room for fans.

Libraries for Reading

• Biblioteca Argentina Dr. Juan Álvarez
• Biblioteca Central General José de San Martín
• Biblioteca Municipal Francisco López Merino
• Biblioteca de la Legislatura de la Provincia
• Biblioteca Pedagógica Eudoro Díaz

Famous Landmarks in Rosario

National Flag Memorial

The National Flag Memorial in Rosario is a huge monument by the Paraná River. It was built to honor the Argentine flag. It opened on June 20, 1957, the day Manuel Belgrano (who created the flag) died. He first raised the flag on an island in the river on February 27, 1812.

The monument covers about 10,000 square meters (107,639 square feet). It was built using stone from the Andes mountains. The design was made by architects Ángel Guido and Alejandro Bustillo. Sculptors like Lola Mora added beautiful artworks.

The Memorial has three main parts:

• The Tower (Torre) is 70 meters (230 feet) high. It remembers the May Revolution of 1810. Manuel Belgrano's tomb is at its base.
• The Civic Courtyard (Patio Cívico) shows the effort to organize the country. This courtyard is used for big outdoor shows.
• The Triumphal Propylaeum (Propileo Triunfal) represents Argentina after its 1853 Constitution. Underneath it is the Honor Room for the Flags of America, where flags from all American nations are displayed.

The monument faces Belgrano Avenue. You can reach the Propylaeum from a walking path called Pasaje Juramento. This path starts near the city hall and the Cathedral. Statues by the famous sculptor Lola Mora are along this path.

The Memorial is the main place for Flag Day celebrations on June 20. In 2007, a new lighting system was added for its 50th anniversary.

Planetarium and Observatory

Rosario's Municipal Astronomical Complex is in Urquiza Park. It's one of the main places for astronomy in the region.

The planetarium shows an artificial image of the sky. It uses projectors on a round dome. This room is considered one of the best in the world for its size and quality. The building is shaped like a comet.

The observatory opened in 1970. It helps people learn about astronomy. It also does research and tells the public about sky events like eclipses. The observatory has two telescopes. One is for looking at the sun, and the other is a powerful telescope for other celestial objects.

The asteroid 14812 Rosario was named after the city.

Experimental Science Museum

This museum opened in 1987. It's special because visitors can touch and use the exhibits. You can use telescopes and microscopes, or experiment with lasers and sound mixers.

The museum has displays with photos and texts about science and technology. There are sections on math, physics, astronomy, and biology. It also has special areas for children aged 4 to 10.

Statue of Che Guevara

A 4-meter (13-foot) tall bronze statue of Che Guevara was unveiled on June 14, 2008. This was to celebrate his 80th birthday. The statue is made from 75,000 bronze keys donated by people across Argentina. It weighs 2.7 tons. This is the first monument to Guevara in his home country.

People of Rosario

Population and Growth

Rosario is in the Santa Fe Province of Argentina. It has about 1.2 million people, making it Argentina's third-largest city. The Greater Rosario area includes Rosario itself and many towns around it. For example, Villa Gobernador Gálvez is just south of Rosario. Other towns like Funes and Roldán are to the west. Many people from these towns travel to Rosario for work.

The northern part of Greater Rosario is called the Cordón Industrial (Industrial Corridor). This area used to have many factories. After some economic problems in the 1990s, the factories faced challenges. But since 2003, the economy has improved. However, some areas still have poverty and unemployment.

In the late 1800s, many European immigrants came to Rosario. By 1926, almost half of the city's people were from other countries. Most of them were from Italy, especially from the Liguria region. Many also came from Spain, France, and other European countries.

Today, Christianity is the main religion, with Roman Catholicism being the most common. Rosario also has one of the largest Jewish communities in Argentina. There is also a local Islamic community.

Rosario's Districts

Rosario is divided into six main areas called districts. Most are named by their location. The oldest part of the city is called the Centre District.

• Centre District
  • Population: 261,047
  • Area: 20.37 km² (11.45% of the city)
  • Population density: 12,815 people per km²

• North District
  • Population: 131,495
  • Area: 35.02 km² (19.6% of the city)
  • Population density: 3,744 people per km²

• Northwest District
  • Population: 144,461
  • Area: 44.14 km² (24.7% of the city)
  • Population density: 3,273 people per km²

• West District
  • Population: 106,356
  • Area: 40.21 km² (22.5% of the city)
  • Population density: 2,645 people per km²

• Southwest District
  • Population: 103,446
  • Area: 20.19 km² (11.3% of the city)
  • Population density: 5,123 people per km²

• South District
  • Population: 160,771
  • Area: 18.76 km² (10.5% of the city)
  • Population density: 8,569 people per km²

City Layout and Neighborhoods

Central Rosario

In downtown Rosario, Córdoba Street is the main road. It starts at the Flag Memorial Park and becomes a walking street for seven blocks. Along Córdoba Avenue, you'll find the Paseo del Siglo (Walk of the Century) with old wealthy family homes. There are also squares like San Martín Square and Plaza Montenegro.

Oroño Boulevard (north-south) and Pellegrini Avenue (east-west) mark the edges of the city center. Where they meet, you'll find the Parque de la Independencia. This park has the Juan B. Castagnino Fine Arts Museum, the Newell's Old Boys football club, and other sports clubs.

To the south, beyond Pellegrini Avenue, are more boulevards and avenues. The main neighborhoods in the south are La Tablada, Parque Casado, and Las Flores. The city ends at the Saladillo Stream.

In the west, you'll find neighborhoods like Echesortu, Belgrano, and Fisherton. To the north-east are Pichincha, Ludueña, and Lisandro de la Torre. This is where the Rosario Central football stadium is located.

Near the stadium, there's Parque Alem, a large park. To the north are neighborhoods like Alberdi and La Florida, which has a popular beach resort. The main streets in the north are Alberdi Avenue and Rondeau Boulevard.

A special part of Rosario is its riverbank. The city has recently improved the area along the Paraná River. Now, there are many parks along the riverbank, like the Argentine Flag Memorial and Parque de España.

Getting Around Rosario

Rosario is an important transport hub. It connects different parts of Argentina and South America. On average, people spend about 50 minutes traveling by public transport each weekday.

Road Transport

Rosario's public transport includes buses, trolleybuses, and taxis. The trolleybus system has one main line. It's run by a government company called SEMTUR.

Plaza Sarmiento is the main hub for city buses. There are about 40 bus lines that run every 5 to 10 minutes. You pay for bus rides using a special plastic card or a paper card.

Many buses use natural gas because it's cheaper. In 2012, special bus lanes were added to some streets downtown. These lanes help buses move faster through busy areas.

Rosario also has a taxi fleet. Taxis are black with yellow outlines. You can call a radio-taxi or find one on the street.

The Mariano Moreno Bus Terminal is a major station for long-distance buses. It serves 73 bus companies. You can travel to many cities in Argentina and other countries like Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Trains in Rosario

Rosario was a key city for British and French railway companies in the past. It had more than 15 train stations. When Argentina's railways became government-owned, most passenger stations closed to save money.

After the railways became private again in the 1990s, passenger services were greatly reduced. Now, the Nuevo Central Argentino (NCA) company handles most of the cargo trains.

Today, passenger trains to Rosario are run by a government company called Trenes Argentinos. They go to Rosario Norte and Rosario Sur.

The city once had a large tramway network with 192 km (119 miles) of tracks. But this was stopped in 1963 because of competition from buses. Now, there are two heritage tramways that use old trams.

There's also a project to build a new urban tramway network. It is expected to start at the Rosario Sur Station and go north through the city.

Major Roads

Rosario is connected to the rest of Argentina by several important roads. These include the Aramburu Highway (to Buenos Aires) and National Route 9.

The city has a system of two belt-highways: Circunvalación Motorway and A012. These highways help traffic go around the city center, making travel faster.

The main beltway, Circunvalación Motorway, is 30 km (19 miles) long. It crosses several national routes. The A012 is a second, longer beltway that goes around the wider Rosario area.

Air Travel

The Rosario – Islas Malvinas International Airport is about 13 km (8 miles) west-northwest of the city center. It serves the Greater Rosario area.

The airport has flights within Argentina to cities like Buenos Aires and Cordoba. It also has international flights to places like Porto Alegre in Brazil and Punta del Este in Uruguay. The airport is also used for cargo flights.

Port of Rosario

The Port of Rosario is a major shipping center in Argentina. It's located on the west bank of the Paraná River, about 550 km (342 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean.

The river here is deep enough for large ships to reach the port. The Paraná River is about 600 meters (1,969 feet) wide in front of the port.

The Port of Rosario is the largest of several ports in the Greater Rosario area. It's part of the Bi-Oceanic Corridor, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This port is very important for exporting goods from Argentina's farming regions.

Goods from other parts of Argentina come to the port by train and truck. The Rosario-Victoria Bridge, opened in 2003, also helps connect the city with the province of Entre Ríos. The Rosario International Airport also helps with cargo transport.

Education in Rosario

Rosario is a big center for education. It's home to the National University of Rosario (UNR), which started in 1968. This university has many different faculties, like Law, Medicine, and Humanities. It also has a large campus called Ciudad Universitaria de Rosario (university city of Rosario). All these national colleges are free to attend.

There are about 624 schools for elementary and secondary education in the city. Rosario has a strong history of university education.

Currently, about 80,000 students attend universities in Rosario. This is about 8.5% of the city's population, which is one of the highest rates in Argentina. Nearly 15% of the people in Rosario have a university degree or have studied at a university.

Rosario also has private universities. These include the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) and the Austral University.

Language in Rosario

Rosario is the third-largest city where Rioplatense Spanish is spoken. This is the same type of Spanish spoken in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. People in Rosario use "vos" instead of "tú" for "you" (this is called voseo). They also pronounce "ll" and "y" sounds like "sh" (this is called sheísmo).

While Rosario Spanish is similar to other types of Rioplatense Spanish, it has some unique features. For example, sometimes the "s" sound at the end of a syllable or word is very soft or disappears.

The Rosarigasino is a special word game that started in Rosario. It was common in informal talk during the 20th century. Even though it's not used as much now, it's still a special part of local culture.

Sports in Rosario

Rosario is home to two famous football clubs: Rosario Central (founded 1889) and Newell's Old Boys (founded 1903). Both teams play in Argentina's top league. Rosario Central has won five national championships and one international title. Newell's has won six national championships.

Many famous Argentine football players were born in Rosario. These include Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, Maximiliano Rodríguez, and Ezequiel Lavezzi. Other famous athletes from Rosario include field hockey player Luciana Aymar and rugby player Juan Imhoff.

Rosario has hosted many international sports events. These include parts of the 1978 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 Women's Hockey World Cup. The city also hosted the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship for rugby.

In motorsports, Rosario was the starting point for the 2014 Dakar Rally and the finishing point in 2016.

Events in Rosario

Rosario hosts many exciting events throughout the year:

• Festival Latinoamericano de Video Rosario (Rosario Latin American Video Festival): An annual event in September, started in 1994.
• Encuentro Internacional de Escultura en Madera-Piedra-Hierro de Rosario (International Meeting of Wood-Stone-Iron Sculpture): An annual event in September/October, since 1993.
• Encuentro y Fiesta Nacional de Colectividades (Communities Meeting and National Celebration): An annual event, started in 1985. It showcases music, dance, food, and customs of different foreign communities in Argentina. It's usually held in November at the Parque Nacional a la Bandera.
• Festival Internacional de Poesía de Rosario (International Poetry Festival): An annual event since 1993, held in November.
• Festival Iberoamericano de Cine de Rosario (Ibero-American Film Festival): An annual film festival since 2003, held in November.
• Leyendas ("Legends"): A convention for cartoons, role-playing games, and science fiction. It's held annually, usually in spring or autumn.

Geography of Rosario

The city of Rosario covers about 178.69 square kilometers (69 square miles). Not all of this area is fully built up.

Rosario is located on a flat plain, typical of the Pampas region. It is about 22.5 to 24.6 meters (74 to 81 feet) above mean sea level. The city sits on the right bank of the Paraná River. Across the river are islands that are part of the Paraná Delta. The nearest city across the river is Victoria, Entre Ríos, which is 60 km (37 miles) away. They are connected by the Rosario-Victoria Bridge.

The city started around Plaza 25 de Mayo (May 25 Square). This square is surrounded by important buildings like the city hall and the Cathedral. Most of Rosario's streets are laid out in a regular grid pattern.

Climate in Rosario

Rosario has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters. The average temperature in Rosario is about 23.7°C (74.7°F) in summer and 11.8°C (53.2°F) in winter. The city gets about 1038 mm (40.9 inches) of rain each year.

Rosario is usually warmer than other cities in Argentina during winter. This is because it's a flat city by the Paraná River and has many buildings. These conditions create a "urban heat island" effect, making the city warmer than the countryside around it.

Snow is very rare in Rosario. The last time sleet fell in the city center was on July 9, 2007. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures sometimes going above 35°C (95°F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.7°C (105.3°F) in December 2012. The lowest was -8.4°C (16.9°F) in July 2020.

Broadcasting and Communication

Rosario has two local private TV channels, Canal 3 and Canal 5. It also has a station that relays the public national channel, Canal 7 Argentina. There are also three cable TV networks, including a local one called Cablehogar.

The city has four AM radio stations and over 200 FM stations.

Rosario has three main newspapers: La Capital (Argentina's oldest newspaper, started in 1867), Rosario/12, and El Ciudadano & La Región.

The city is part of Argentina's optical fiber network. Most homes have a phone line, and many people use cell phones. You can also find broadband Internet access through different services.

Notable People from Rosario

Images for kids

• 

  Libertad Lamarque

• 

  Che Guevara

• 

  Ángel Di María

• 

  Lionel Messi

• 

  Luciana Aymar

• 

  Marcelo Bielsa

• 

  Valeria Mazza

• 

  Juan Imhoff

• 

  Felipe Martinez Carbonell

Sister Cities

Rosario has many sister cities around the world. This means they share cultural and economic ties.

Cooperation Agreements

Rosario also works closely with:

• Viña del Mar, Chile

See also

In Spanish: Rosario (Argentina) para niños