4.00pm | Legends of Recoleta

Discover statues, a legendary tree and mysterious cemetery.

The Recoleta neighbourhood is characterised by its Parisian mansions and elegant streets, but also by the mysterious Recoleta Cemetery (Junín 1760), which incredibly, is located right in the centre of this neighbourhood. The tomb of Evita Perón is the most visited - her embalmed body was lay to rest eight metres below the marble facade of the vault in order to prevent further thefts (her body was stolen following the 1955 military coup and was hidden in a cemetery in Italy. It was returned to Argentina after Juan Domingo Perón's return from exile in 1973.

But there are other stories here too. For example, that of Salvador María del Carril, Argentina's first vice president. His statue on top of his tomb is facing in the opposite direction to that of his wife, a detail ordered by his wife because of the terrible relationship they endured. 

Leaving the cemetery, walk towards Plaza Francia, where you'll find one of the city's oldest, and largest trees (Av. Alvear y Posadas). The huge gomero tree's branches create a diameter of 50 metres. Take a rest in its shadow before carrying on.

Once recharged, take Avenida del Libertador, one of the main arteries that connects the centre of the city to the northern suburbs. If you turn right, at the intersection with Av. Callao, you'll find a scultpture of a large torso with the distinctive style of Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The piece is valued at 1 million dollars. To the left, on the same block as the Museo de Bellas Artes, there's another interesting sculpture, Heracles, created by Emille Bourdelle, a disciple of Auguste Rodin.


 

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JUNIN 1760