Spiral staircase inside the Torre Tanque

Bridge, tower & modernAtlantic coast & the Pampas

Torre Tanque, the Tudor Revival water tower of Mar del Plata

The Torre Tanque (Mar del Plata Water Tower) is a Tudor Revival water tower at the corner of Falucho and Mendoza, on the highest point of the Stella Maris hill in Mar del Plata. Opened in 1943 and declared a National Historic Monument in 2013, it symbolises the arrival of running water in the city and is a good stop among the hidden gems of Mar del Plata.

A seaside city chose its water tower as an emblem and dressed it as an English castle. Whoever climbs its steps reaches one of the most sought-after lookouts in Mar del Plata.

WhereCorner of Falucho and Mendoza, Stella Maris hill, Mar del Plata

TypeTudor Revival water tower (1939-1943) with a panoramic lookout

Best forArchitecture, the history of Mar del Plata and anyone looking for things to do in the city with panoramic views

Getting thereOn the Stella Maris hill, close to the centre of Mar del Plata

The history of the Torre Tanque

When Mar del Plata became the resort of choice of Argentina's upper class at the end of the 19th century, one of the favoured places for summer houses was the area of the Stella Maris hills. The need for fresh water, until then drawn by windmills, led in 1911 to the construction of a first concrete water tower there. The entrepreneur Miguel Lanus was behind the project, and that tower supplied water to around fourteen blocks.

As Stella Maris grew into an exclusive neighbourhood, the original tower looked out of place beside the surrounding architecture. Obras Sanitarias de la Nación, the federal agency in charge of water distribution in the country, therefore decided to build a larger reservoir with a better appearance. A public competition for preliminary designs drew six proposals, and the architect Cornelio Lange won with a Tudor Revival tower in harmony with the eclectic architecture of the area. Work began on 1 September 1939.

Building it meant digging out the hill: 5,753 cubic metres of stone and 7,363 of earth were removed to house the large cistern, which lies six metres below ground. The quartzite rock known as Piedra Mar del Plata was later used to clad the exterior, a key feature of the local Mar del Plata style. The cistern holds 13 million litres and the elevated tank 500,000.

The cistern was filled for the first time on 30 January 1943, during an opening ceremony attended by the then president, Ramón Castillo. At 40.75 metres tall, the tower rises on the highest point of the Stella Maris hill and became one of the emblematic buildings of the city. In 2013 it was declared a National Historic Architectural Monument.

Today visitors reach the lookout by a 194-step staircase or by lift; according to the sources the lookout admits a maximum of 50 people at a time. From there the four cardinal points can be seen, along with buildings such as the Havanna building, the tallest in the city. Photographs and old newspapers on site tell the story of the work. The sources add one curious fact: Mar del Plata is perhaps the only city of its size supplied exclusively by semi-submerged wells drawing from a good-quality aquifer.

Curious facts about the Torre Tanque

The 1943 tower replaced an older concrete one built in 1911, which supplied around fourteen blocks.
Six proposals entered the 1939 competition, and the one by the architect Cornelio Lange, in Tudor style, won.
The exterior cladding reuses quartzite rock dug from the hill itself, the so-called Piedra Mar del Plata.
The large underground cistern holds 13 million litres, while the elevated tank in the tower holds 500,000.
The tower is 40.75 metres tall and is climbed by 194 steps or by lift, to a lookout that admits a maximum of 50 people.
Mar del Plata is supplied exclusively by semi-submerged wells drawing a good-quality aquifer, something unusual for a city of its size, according to the sources.

Tours near Mar del Plata Water Tower (Torre Tanque)

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Polo Lessons in Mar del Plata: Learn and Improve Your Game

★ 5 (9 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Oceanfront Sunrise Horseback Ride in Mar del Plata

★ 5 (1 reviews) · 2.5 h

See details ›

Visiting the Torre Tanque

It stands at the corner of Falucho and Mendoza, on the Stella Maris hill, and can be climbed by a 194-step staircase or by lift.
The lookout gives panoramic views of the city centre, the beaches north of Cabo Corrientes and the hills west and south of the city.
Obras Sanitarias staff give information on how the tower works, its history and the local water supply system.
Photographs and old newspapers about the construction are displayed inside; check the current visiting days and hours before you go.
The Villa Ortiz Basualdo, another place in this guide, is in the same part of the city.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Mar del Plata Water Tower (Torre Tanque) is

Photos of Mar del Plata Water Tower (Torre Tanque)

Central shaft of the Torre Tanque seen looking upwards

Obras Sanitarias building in the Torre Tanque complex

Entrance door of the Torre Tanque in Mar del Plata

The Torre Tanque seen from Avenida Colón

Questions

What is the Torre Tanque in Mar del Plata?

It is a Tudor Revival water tower opened in 1943 on the Stella Maris hill, a symbol of the arrival of running water in the city and a National Historic Monument since 2013.

Where is the Torre Tanque?

At the corner of Falucho and Mendoza, on the highest point of the Stella Maris hill in Mar del Plata.

How many steps are there to the Torre Tanque lookout?

There are 194 steps, and there is also a lift.

How tall is the Torre Tanque?

The English and Spanish sources give about 40.75 metres; an Italian source mentions 48 metres.

Who designed the Torre Tanque?

The architect Cornelio Lange, who won the 1939 competition called by Obras Sanitarias de la Nación.

What can you see from the Torre Tanque?

A panoramic view of central Mar del Plata, the beaches north of Cabo Corrientes and the hills to the west and south.