Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cementerio de la Recoleta
One of the world's great necropolises, the Recoleta Cemetery, located in the
upscale, northern barrio of the same name, has been the burial place of
choice for Argentina's elite since the mid-19th century. Presidents, military
generals, artists, aristocracy, and, most famously, Eva Perón lie interred here
in fabulous mausoleums of granite and bronze. Built tightly against each
other, the tombs are visited via a labyrinth of streets and narrow passage-
ways. The architectural styles are numerous and fascinating: grandiose Greek
temples stand adjacent to diminutive Egyptian pyramids and Art Nouveau
vaults are next to monumental cenotaphs. Added in 1881, an imposing Doric-
columned entrance protects this extraordinary city of the dead.
Top 10 Features
1 Eva Duarte de Perón
2 The Leloir Family
3 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
4 Benediction Chapel
5 José C. Paz
6 Pantheon of Outstanding
Citizens
7 Dorrego-Ortíz Basualdo
8 Carlos Pellegrini
9 William Brown
0 Pantheon of the Fallen in the
1890 Revolution
Benediction Chapel
A number of tour
operators arrange
walking tours of the
cemetery. You can
also buy a map at
the cemetery
entrance.
!
Eva Duarte de Perón
Grab a coffee at La
Biela
(see p70)
, a
Parisian-style café
and one-time haunt
of the city's
intelligentsia and
the automobile
racing fraternity.
Evita lies embalmed
within this rather modest
family vault
. Tribute
plaques inscribed with fiery
quotes such as, “I will
return and be millions!”
crowd its walls and flowers
always adorn its entrance.
(below)
#
Domingo Faustino
Sarmiento
Sarmiento, president of
Argentina from 1868 to
1874, was a Freemason.
His tomb, which he
designed himself, bears
Masonic symbols such as
pyramids, compasses, and
the “all-seeing eye.”
• Map N4
• Junín 1790, btwn
Guido and Vicente López
• 4803-1594
• Open 7am-6pm daily
• Free English-language
guided tours: 11am Mon
& Thu
@
The Leloir Family
$
Benediction Chapel
Built in the style of a
Greek temple, this grandi-
ose family mausoleum
embodies the ambition and
confidence of Argentina's
19th-century elite. Like
many other tombs here, its
sculptures were fashioned
in the studios of Europe.
This 1882 chapel is
unusual for the remarkable
crucifix that stands over its
small altar. Sculpted from
marble by Italian artist
Giulio Monteverde, the
Cristo Morto
shows Christ
in death, on the cross.
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