Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

102  BUENOS AIRES AREA B Y AREA

panoramic view of the river
and recount the history of the
church as well as the area. Inside
is a beautiful Baroque altar, fea-
turing Inca motifs, which was
brought along the Camino Real
mule-train route from Peru. The
church is often open between
services, and visitors can wander
down into the crypt and see a
small but interesting collection
of religious art contained in one
of the adjoining cloisters.
The exquisite Baroque altar at the Iglesia de
Nuestra Señora del Pilar Centro Cultural Recoleta, venue of exciting
2 Centro Cultural artistic experimentation
1 Iglesia de Recoleta
Nuestra Señora first mayor of Buenos Aires,
del Pilar Junín 1930. City Map 2 C2. Tel (011) Torcuato de Alvear, began a
campaign to Europeanize and
4803-1040. @ 10, 17, 60, 92, 110.
Junín 1904. City Map 2 C2. Tel (011) Open 1:30–8:30pm Tue−Fri, 11:30am− embellish the city, and this prime
4803-6793. @ 10, 17, 60, 92, 110. 8:30pm Sat, Sun, & hols. 7 = chunk of real estate was
Open varies. 5 8am, 11am, & 7:30pm ∑ centro culturalrecoleta.org/ reclaimed for the barrio. Architect
Mon–Fri, 8:30am, 11am, & 7pm Sat, nuevositio Juan Buschiazzo was responsible
8.30am, 10am, 11am, noon, 7pm, 8pm, for the refurbishment, adding
9pm Sun. ∑ basilicadelpilar.org.ar This complex of buildings dates the pavilions, elegant Italianate
from the 17th century and is terraces, and a chapel, which is
Donated to the monks of one of the oldest in the city. now an auditorium. After a brief
Recoleta in 1716 by Zaragoza- The plot was donated to the period as a home for the elderly,
born entrepreneur Don Juan de monks of Recoleta in 1716, the complex was remodeled in
Narbona, this church takes its and Jesuit architects Juan Krauss 1980 and became the Centro
name from Zaragoza’s patron and Juan Wolf drew up the Cultural Recoleta (CCR).
saint, Señora del Pilar (Virgin of plans. Andrés Blanqui is thought The barrio may be ultra-
Pilar). Jesuit archi tect Andrés to have worked on the façade bourgeois, but there is nothing
Blanqui built it along the lines of and interiors of the on-site conservative about the
a classic Spanish church of the monastery. During the 19th schedule of art events that take
period. Later refine ments include century the building served place at this sprawling cultural
an exterior clock made in Britain as an art school founded by center. About 20 galleries are
and Pas-de-Calais ceramic tiles. liberation hero General Manuel used for stimu lating visual arts
The exterior murals are Belgrano, and also as a refuge exhi bitions, various theatrical
inspired by the work of Spanish for the local homeless. works, and film projections.
painter Fernando Brambilia, The Recoleta barrio became A number of small dance and
an 18th-century specialist popular with the middle classes theater companies use the
in perspec tive. They show a in the 1870s. During this time, the CCR as a rehearsal space.
3 Cementerio de
la Recoleta
See pp104–5.
4 Café La Biela
Ave Quintana 600. City Map 2 C2.
Tel (011) 4804-0449. @ 59, 60, 101,
102, 110. Open 7–3am daily. 7
∑ labiela.com

If it lacks the atmosphere and
artistic ghosts of the grand Café
Tortoni (see p74), La Biela still has
a certain old-world appeal. The
terrace could be housed in the
A contemporary installation at the Centro Cultural Recoleta streets of Rome or Paris, except
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p279 and pp289–90

102-103_EW_Argentina.indd 102 05/08/16 10:40 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm