There is a lot of history that has taken place in the Plaza de Mayo, perhaps most famous took place during the dictatorship in the 1970's. Known in the states as the "Dirty War", 30.000 people are claimed disappeared and most, unfortunately, presumed dead. Here in Argentina this era is referred to as the "Terrorism of the State" because it was not really a war between two groups but rather the government destroying its own society.
On April 30th, 1977, mother's of the "disaparecidos" or disappeared people began to protest around the Plaza because of its prime location in front of the Casa Rosada. 'Til this day, every Thursday these women march around the Plaza. Some are still hopeful that the children who were taken will reappear. But there isn't much hope, except that their bodies were never discovered.
The image of the white handkerchief painted on the plaza, is what most of the women wear on their heads as they walk around. The handkerchiefs originally used was cloth from diapers that would have been used by their missing children. It's an image that is also used for organizations or support groups for "Madres de la Plaza de Mayo".
Also important to note is the influence of French architecture in some of the buildings around the Plaza.... this is why Buenos Aires has been named the "Paris of South America".
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