In the heart of Argentina, an 82-metre concrete wing soars into the sky. Tourists photograph it, travel guides mention it, and Argentinians know its story. In Switzerland, on the other hand, few are aware that one of Argentina’s tallest monuments is dedicated to a Swiss woman. Myriam Stefford, born Rosa Martha Rossi in Bern, is a legend in Argentina. Around 11,500 kilometres separate her birthplace from her mausoleum, known as El Ala (the wing), in Córdoba. Her eventful life has been widely documented. Newspapers in Switzerland, as well as publications abroad, books and films, have recounted her story. Yet less is known about the Swiss monument in her memory that still stands. Why has an 82-metre mausoleum honouring a Swiss woman stood in the middle of Argentina for 90 years? The answer begins with an adventurous life, a great love and a passion for flying – and ends with a tragic accident still shrouded in mystery. Rosa Martha Rossi was born in Bern in 1905. Her father, a carriage ...
