Buenos Aires

6# Visiting Buenos Aires | Recoleta

This chique and fashionable area is one of the most expensive of Buenos Aires. “La Recoleta” was founded in the 18th century as a place for pray and retreat for Franciscan monks. Around 1871 the rich settled here, fleeing the outbreak of yellow fever in the southern parts of the city. This upscale neighbourhood has a lot to offer. Walk around the broad avenues and parks and enjoy the beautiful architecture. Do some shopping at exclusive boutiques or at one of the shopping malls, such as Patio Bullrich. And of course pay a visit to the beautiful city of the dead: Cementerio de la Recoleta.

Recoleta Cemetery is the oldest and most aristocratic cemetery of Buenos Aires. It includes tombs and mausoleums of many famous people, the most famous being the one of Evita Perón. I find her tomb not very impressive and rather boring compared to others though, and it’s hard to find, make sure to follow a crowd or buy a map. Around the cemetery there are a lot of things to do. Next to the cemetery you’ll find the Recoleta Cultural Centre, it offers a wide range of expositions in art, music and theatre. On Saturday and Sunday Plaza Francia changes into a very nice fair where people play music, make art and sell all kinds of handicraft, art and food. You can visit Village Recoleta (cinema’s, restaurants, bars and bookstores) or Buenos Aires Design the biggest shopping center for interior decoration of Latin America. Also the National Museum of Fine Arts is closeby.

Points of interest:

Recoleta Cemetery
Address: Junín 1760
Open: Every day from 8 am to 6 pm.
Guided tours: Free, on the last Sunday of each month at 2:30 pm.

The flower, Floris Generica (see picture), at Plaza de Naciones Unidades. This monument represents a colossal flower, in stainless steel and alluminium. This beautiful piece of art really works! The flower opens and closes consistent with daylight, just like real flowers do. Each petal weighs about 4 tons. Created by Architect Eduardo Catalano.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National museum of fine arts)
Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 12.30 am to 7.30 pm.
Saturday and Sunday from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm.
Admission: Free

Patio Bullrich Shopping Center

This is one of the smallest but most exclusive and fashionable shopping centers of BA. International brands like Cacharel, Kenzo, Lacroix, Versace are sold.

Av. del Libertador 750

Open : Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm.

© 2008 Maggy Reporting.