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RECOLETA CEMETERY
Location:
1790,
Junin St.-Recoleta
Free
of charge guided tours last Sunday of every month between March and
November. Meet at entrance portico at 14.30 hs.Tours are only suspended if it
rains.
In
olden days and until 1822 the land was occupied by the garden of
Recollect monks. The artistic heritage makes it into one of the tourist
icons in the area. Closet o a hundred hectares where the remains of the
Fathers of Independence, warriors, former presidents, writers,
scientists and artists were laid to rest.
According to funeral architecture experts the Recoleta Cemetery shares
second place with Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, the first being that
of Geneva, Switzerland.
Entrance Portico: (Pórtico de Entrada) has a double row of Doric columns
without a base, and three iron gates each measuring three metres. Built
in 1881 by the architect Juan A. Buschiazzo, commissioned by Mayor
Torcuato de Alvear together with the machine moulded brick wall with
English-style joints which surround the cemetery.
Chapel of Blessings: (Capilla de Bendiciones ) This is the place where
prayers are said during burials. There is an image of Jesus Christ made
of Carrara marble all in one piece. It was made by the sculptor
Monteverde and was brought from Europe in 1887.
General Carlos Maria de Alvear Mausoleum: Built in granite, it keeps the
remains of Gen. Carlos M. de Alvear, an Argentine Independence hero, Don
Torcuato de Alvear, first Mayor of Buenos Aires and that of his son, the
President of the Republic, Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear.
General Juan Facundo Quiroga Sepulchre: This Federal leader from the La
Rioja Province is buried here, standing. His feats as a warrior won him
the nickname “Tigre of the Flatlands” (Tigre de los Llanos). He was
murdered at Barranca Yaco, Cordoba Province and his remains were taken to Buenos Aires respecting his will. The image over the tomb, “La
Dolorosa”(“ the one in sorrow” or “the suffering one” ) was made in 1936
by sculptor Antonio Tantardini and it was the first work of art to
arrive at the Recoleta cemetery.
Manuel Dorrego’s Vault: a very simple sepulcher with a white marble urn
lit up by natural Light entering through a bull’s eye. It contains the
remains of this military chief who fought in the battles of the Alto
Peru campaign during the War of Independence. Named governor of Buenos
Aires in 1827, position he held until he was overthrown by General Juan
Lavalle who had him shot in Navarro.
Admiral William Brown Mausoleum: The ashes of Admiral Guillermo Brown
are kept in a bronze urn obtained from melting all the cannons from his
ships. Brown, of Irish origins, created the Navy division which fought
against the Spanish.
Luis
Piedrabuena’s Vault: It contains the remains of this Merchant Navy
Captain who dedicated his life to exploring the coastlines, rivers, and
islands of the Southern Seas. He died in 1883.
Familia Dorrego Ortiz Basualdo Vault: The set of sculptures that can be
seen here is a loyal copy of the Montanaro Family sepulchers done by the
sculptor Vila in the Di Staglieno Camposanto of Genoa, Italy. It
represents the Gospel parable of the Virgin lightning the candelabrum of
supreme perfection.
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