Recoleta Cemetery

The final resting place of many famous Argentines, Recoleta Cemetery is a massive cemetery located within the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Established in 1822, the cemetery is built directly adjacent to the Our Lady of Pilar church. This cemetery has many famous residents because the neighborhood of Recoleta became very upscale in the late 1800s and is still home to many rich and powerful Argentine families.

Famous residents include:
Raul Alfonsin, president of Argentina
Eva Perón, first lady of Argentina
Carlos Saavedra Lamas, Nobel Peace Prize recipient
José Clemente Paz, diplomat and journalist

I’m not usually one to wander through cemeteries, but I changed my mind last fall when we visited Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Recoleta is a massive cemetery set out in a grid like a group of city streets. On the day we visited, we really lucked out, and had a beautiful sunny day. We intended on going straight to the cemetery, but got sidetracked by the really interesting Plaza Francia artisan market. The late afternoon sun was working its magic on the intricate mausoleums and I was able to capture some good photographs. The abundance of different colored marble, the various fonts of the markers, the occasional stained glass window, it all made for a very pleasant afternoon.

Access to Recoleta Cemetery can be had year round. The cemetery is open from 7:00am to 6:00pm daily. Admission is free. If you want a map, you can purchase one from a greeter at the entrance to the cemetery for 8 pesos. A map is not necessary, but if you’re pressed for time and want to see the highlights, you’ll be able to find your way quicker with a map. For more photos and interesting history about the cemetery and some of its residents, there is a great website: AfterLife.