
Highlights
The
historic cemetery is adorned with statues that complement the
beautiful mausoleums created in a wide variety of architectural
styles. The entire cemetery is laid out in sections like city
blocks, with wide tree-lined walkways branching into smaller
"streets" filled with mausoleums.
Each mausoleum bears the family name etched into the facade and
brass or bronze plaques are added to the front of the structure for
each particular family member. All mausoleums in La Recoleta
traditionally engrave a death date but no birth date is maintained.
One of the most popular mausoleums to be visited in the cemetery is
the Duarte family tomb that contains the remains of the country's
beloved
Evita.
The Restaurants and
Shops Around the Cemetary
Surrounding the cemetary from 3 directions is a great number of
touristy restaurants and bars. The Plazaleta de Recoleta is found on
one of those blocks looking at the cemetary walls. The plaza offers
the best movie theater in Buenos Aires, the Recoleta Village, and an
excellent bookstore.
Our
Lady of the Pillar Church
Nuestra Senora del Pilar is the name of an ancient church situated
immediately next to the cemetery in Recoleta. This old colonial
Baroque church was built by the Franciscans between 1706 and 1732.
The church is widely believed to be the most attractive church in
the city, and is a national historic monument.
Plaza Francia
The plaza near the church of Recoleta and right across from the
Cultural Center serves as the largest outdoor handicrafts fair in
the city, La Feria de Recoleta, taking place every weekend.
At the fair you can see shows by street performers that are offered
to the passer-bys along with thousands of gifts on sale through the
park.
Museo de Arte Decorativo:
The National Museum of Decorative Art is in a magnificent French
Classical landmark building (it's just worth the price of admission
just to enter this breathtaking structure). The museum houses a
fascinating collection of furnishings and home decor, most of which
was donated by Argentina's leading families. In the same complex is
the Museo de Arte
Oriental (Museum of Eastern Art), which has works
from places such as India and the Middle East.
Av. del Libertador 1902
Phone: 4806-8306/ 4801-8248
The National Fine Arts
Museums contains some of the nations greatest treasures. While the
museum'
s collection of impressionists leaves much to be desired, the
museum does offer a good collection of art by Argentine artists.
Av. del Libertador 1473
Phone: 4803-0802, 4803-8814, 4803-4691
Colonia, Uruguay
Colonia del Sacramento, in
Uruguay's province of Colonia, was the only Portuguese settlement
along the Rio de la Plata. Founded as Nova Colonia do Sacramento in
1680 by Manuel de Lobo, it was the focus of struggle between the
Spanish, who founded the settlement at Montevideo in response, and
the Portuguese over control of the area. For years it operated as a
contraband port, evading the strictures imposed on trade by the
Spanish crown. Today it is a resort city, a port, and the trade
center for a rich agricultural region.

Built in Portuguese style of houses and cobblestoned streets, the historic portion of Colonia is reminiscent of old Lisbon. Winding streets and colorful houses are laid out in a pattern different from Spanish colonial cities, and a delight to explore. The historic quarter, Barrío Historico, on a small peninsula jutting out into the river, was named a UNESCO heritage site in 1995.


















