The open-air sculpture museum — 700 statues on the streets of Argentina's Chaco capital
Resistencia is the capital of the Argentine Chaco and one of South America's most unexpected art cities. Since the 1960s, the city has accumulated over 700 outdoor sculptures on its streets, parks, and roundabouts — all free and walkable. The biennial Bienal Internacional de Escultura brings artists from 40 countries to carve in the city's streets over six weeks. It is also the base for exploring El Impenetrable, Argentina's largest national park — a dry Chaco wilderness of jaguars, pumas, tapirs, and giant anteaters.
Resistencia was founded in 1878 as the capital of the Chaco Territory. The artistic tradition began with the Taller de Accion Cultural in the 1960s, which placed sculptures on street corners as democratic public art. The concept spread organically until the city formalised it as a civic identity. Today Resistencia has more outdoor sculptures per capita than any other city in Latin America.