Location:
340, Humberto1º St.-La Boca
During the 17th & 18th Centuries, Buenos Aires begun to expand and
populate this Southern neighbourhood which was to become known as
St. Peter’s Heights due to its more elevated terrain. Also known as
the “Port Neighbourhood”, it witnessed in 1600 the rise of the cult
to San Pedro Gonzalez Telmo known then as patron of the old St.
Dominic Convent situated in the block surrounded by Peru, Mexico,
Bolivar and Chile Streets.
The Jesuits decided to found a church here in 1734 but got Royal
Authorization only in 1748 when building started on the plot donated
by Don Ignacio Bustillo y Zeballos. When the Jesuits were expelled
in 1767 work had not yet been completed. Also, a House for Spiritual
Exercises for Men was built next to the church.
The Bethlemite monks took over in 1785, made their hospital in the
annex which was later to be used as a jail. The church was finished
in 1876.
The
neighbourhood underwent a deep transformation alter the yellow fever
epidemic in 1871 and most of the well-off families departed, looking
for better climatic and sanitary conditions elsewhere.