Recoleta Circuit (Recoleta Cementery - Recoleta Cultural Center - France Square - National Museum of Fine Arts)

Recoleta Cemetery

The Recoleta Cemetery is the oldest and most aristocratic cemetery in the city. Its almost 6 hectares (14,000 acres) include the tombs and mausoleums of Independence patriots, presidents of the Republic, military people, scientists and artists. Among them, Eva Perón, Adolfo Bioy Casares and Facundo Quiroga. The crypts and mausoleums were the work, in many cases, of famous architects and are adorned with sculptures. More than 70 mausoleums were declared National Historic Monument. The cemetery is located on the land granted by Juan de Garay to Rodrigo Ortiz de Zárate, a member of the colonizing expedition. Later, the Frailes Recoletos convent was built there. In 1822, after the monks were expelled as a consequence of the General Reform of the Ecclesiastical Order, the orchard of the convent became a cemetery. Its layout was designed by the French engineer Próspero Catelin, and was remodeled during the government of the City Mayor Torcuato de Alvear, in 1881. This remodeling was made by the architect Juan Antonio Buschiazzo. The Italian sculptor Giulio Monteverde created the Christ that presides the chapel.

Junín 1760
Hours: Every day from 8 am to 6 pm.
Guided tours: Free, on the last Sunday of each month, at 2:30 pm.
Telephone: 4803-1594
Bus lines: 5, 10, 17, 37, 38, 39, 41, 59, 60, 61, 62, 67, 75, 92, 93, 95, 101, 102, 106, 108, 110, 124, 130, 152

Recoleta Cultural Center

Junín 1930

This building belonged to the Convent of the Padres Recoletos (1886). It later served as an asylum for old men and as from 1979, it has been run as it currently works.
Architects Santiago Beadle, Luis Benedit and Clorindo Testa intended to reformulate certain sectors of the building to adapt them to the purposes of the Center while respecting the original structure of the construction and restoring the most antique part of the Convent.
Today the auditorium "El Aleph" (former chapel of the asylum) has kept its doors and primitive stain glasses. Next to the auditorium, the amphitheater "Buenos Aires Verano". It holds 27 exhibition rooms, among which "Cronopios" and the multi-cinema stand out (Mementarily Closed).
The wide range of activities developed by the Cultural Center involves fine arts exhibitions, concerts, theatre plays, dances, presentations of books, recitals, perfomances, techno music, video shows and special events.
It also seats a Training area, where courses and artistic shops are delivered as well as a research laboratory for musical production equipped with the most advanced digital technology

Francia Square

Av. del Libertador, among Ricardo Levene, Dr. Luis Agote and Pueyrredon streets

The central monument of this square is denominated "Francia a la Argentina" (France to Argentina), by French sculptor Edmond Peynot. It was inaugurated in 1910 and it has been the first monument donated by a foreign community to be erected in our country, on the Centennial of the Revolution of May.
The four bronze bas-reliefs located on the base depict historical moments of both nations: "Primera Junta de Gobierno Criollo" and "Paso de los Andes" (from Argentina history) and "La Toma de la Bastilla" and "La Declaración de la Independencia" (from France). The allegorical figures, middle centered, in Carrara marble, represent Sciences, Industries, Agriculture and Arts. The shaft is crowned by two feminine figures representing Argentina and France, hand in hand, led by an Angel (symbolizing Glory).
Surrounding the monument, different plates referring to French characters who influenced in our country: grenadier Domingo Porteau, dead San Lorenzo's combat during the fights for independence, the writer and journalist Emile Zola and Luis Braille's bronze sculpture made by Djibilion Lazaro. Luis Braille was the creator of the reading and writing system for the blind.

National Museum of Fine Arts

Av. del Libertador 1473

The most important in our country and one of the main in America. This building formerly belonged to O.S.N. (Argentine Water Services Company). Architect Alejandro Bustillo took charge of the design in 1937, remodelled and adapted it to the function it currently fulfils. It is classical a style. There are 32 rooms, where permanent patrimony is exposed, altogether with changing expositions.
Its collections involve more than 9,000 art pieces - paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and objects - 500 out of which are exhibited. It offers a broad panorama of the Occidental art, from Middle Ages until nowadays. Outstanding is the collection of French art from XIX century. First floor holds the Argentine Art collection and one of its rooms is dedicated to contemporary works. The Museum offers important exhibitions of Argentine and international art all over the year.
Among its outstanding pieces, we can admire works by Goya, The Greek, Tintoretto, Zurbarán, Van Gogh, Picasso, Kandinsky and Miró; sculptures by Bourdelle and Rodín, paintings from the XX century by Carlos Morel, Cándido López, Prilidiano Pueyrredón, Ernesto de la Cárcova, etc.

 

 

 

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Information source: Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires www.bue.gov.ar
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