Cemetery de la Recoleta

The ritzy part of Buenos Aires known as Recoleta takes its name from a Franciscan convent but is best known for the must-see Cementerio de la Recoleta. The Cemetery includes graves of some of the most influential and important persons of Argentina, including several presidents, scientists and wealthy characters. Internationally, Eva Peron (Evita) is one of the best known persons buried in the cemetery. On Tuesday, Amy and I enjoyed a guided English language tour through the cemetery.

The entrance to the cemetery is through neo-classical gates with tall Greek columns. The cemetery contains many elaborate marble mausoleums, decorated with statues, in a wide variety of architectural styles. Most of the mausoleums hold between 22 & 24 caskets; though some mausoleums hold even more! The entire labyrinth-like cemetery is laid out in sections like city blocks, with wide tree-lined main walkways branching into sidewalks filled with mausoleums.

One interesting and unique aspect of La Recoleta Cemetery is a colony of feral cats that resides within the gates. Although they can be spotted anytime, they tend to gather in groups of dozens near closing-time, when some of the locals come to feed them.