Calle Florida may be a bit of an eye sore these days, with a bit more McDonald's and Zara than the decadent Harrod's and rich cafes of yonder years, but this street is actually the oldest street in Buenos Aires dating back to the 17th century when it was a mere footpath to the river from the original settlement.
The original cobblestone paving of Calle Florida in Buenos Aires dates back to 1789. The stones were brought from Montevideo, Uruguay, and later from Tandil for durability.
A small section of these original stones are preserved and visible behind the entrance to the Catedral Subte station at the corner of Avenida Diagonal Norte and Calle Florida.