Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Alvear Public Square
- Adjacent to this
grassy square are the cemetery, Basílica and
convent that are the heart of historic Recoleta.
Plaza Carlos Pelligrini
- At Calle Libertad,
this square houses the city's finest private clubs
and foreign embassies. It is the traditional bor-
der of Recoleta and downtown Buenos Aires.
Plaza Francia
- Home to the Museum of Fine
Arts, the best museum in Buenos Aires.
Historic Recoleta
The Recoleta Cemetery, the Basílica of Our
Lady of Pilar and the Convent of the Recoletos
form the triumvirate that sits atop the gently
sloping hill behind the Alvear Public Square.
The Basílica of Our Lady of Pilar
sits to one
side of the cemetery. The church dates back to
1716 and was completed in 1732 under the
direction of Jesuit architects Andrés Blanqui
and Juan Prímoli. Its beauty lies in its simplic-
ity. A single tower rises on the left side of the
church and is partially covered in tile that was
added after construction. There is a belfry with
a double arch located on the opposite side,
crowned by a colonial-era clock tower that sits
between two pear-shaped ornaments.
The Basílica is
a favorite place
to get married
in the city. Sat-
urdays are most
popular.
Pilar is a splendid example of Argentinean colo-
nial architecture. Inside, the main altar is itself
a great piece of Baroque art. Note the Virgin of
Pilar, placed in a central niche in the altar. The
Altar of Relics (
Altar de las Reliquias)
is made
of mahogany with brass appliqués. The
