Jim & Barbara Burton Travel: Recoleta Cemetery - City of Angels

Recoleta Cemetery

A small city within a city. The City of Angels, a 5.5 hectare walled site in the Recoleta district of Buenos Aires. It is home to the deceased rich and famous residents of Buenos Aires.

Recoleta cemetery stands in the gardens of the former convent and next to the church of Our Lady of Pilar which was founded by the monks of the Order of Recoletas in 1732 and was disbanded in 1822. That same year the gardens were converted into the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires and inaugurated on November 17th. It is not only a final resting place for the deceased but depicts some of Argentina's history of conflict and many beautiful artistic works such as sculptures in stone and bronze, iron work and stained glass.

The mausoleums and vaults are owned by the families in which the coffins rest on ledges at various ground and lower levels. Narrow spiral stairs descend to the lower levels some of which can be seen and others obscured from public view.

There are many famous people buried here including politicians, doctors, military, architects, poets, intellectuals, foreigners and arguably the most famous Eva Peron who lies in the tomb of her family, The Familia Duarte. She is not buried with her husband Jaun Peron whose body is buried at his country estate.

As you walk ahead from the entrance you arrive at Zonza Briano's life size bronze of Cristo el Redentor - Christ the Redeemer and from here the cemetery radiates into several large avenues from which the smaller lanes are accessed. Once inside this incredible site you are overcome by a sense of awe.

Apart from the military, goverment and some special sites all of the other tombs are solely maintained by the families to whom they belong, hence some have fallen into disrepair. This occurs when either the family has completely died out or the cost of maintenance is no longer possible. As with any real estate these tombs can be sold and currently fetch between $40,000. and $130,000. U.S. They must be emptied of all the coffins when they are sold. The government does not expropriate derelict sites.

I will not elaborate on the art and the history but let the following photos speak for themselves ......