Cabildo of Buenos Aires, view from Plaza de Mayo

The Cabildo served as seat of the town council and government house of the Viceroyalty during the colonial period. The edifice also housed the Royal Audience of Buenos Aires, the Appeals Chamber, and the city's prison. The building's original design featured 11 arches; however, three of the arches on the north side were demolished in 1889, along with the tower. Subsequent to this, the three arches on the south side were also demolished to restore the building's symmetry. Its colonial character was restored between 1939 and 1940, including the reconstruction of the tower.