One of the must-see sights of Buenos Aires, the Recoleta Cemetery in the elegant Recoleta district is a great destination for a sunny afternoon in Buenos Aires. Housed in a walled area the cemetery consists of a maze of mausoleums lining a network of small pathways and larger walkways dotted with cypress trees. The mausoleums are the resting places of some of the richest and most well-known families in the history of the city and they all have a story behind them.
Hidden in one of the narrow passageways you’ll find the tomb of Eva Peron, which is surprisingly modest in comparison with some of the rest. The cemetery was established in 1822 as a public cemetery, but was soon after appropriated by the city’s rich after they fled the area of San Telmo due to a yellow fever epidemic that swept through the center of the city. In true competitive style the families of the deceased have seemingly tried to out-do each other with evermore impressive constructions, incorporating towers, turrets, stained glass and lavish sculptures.
Today it is a beautiful and calm place to wander through, get a little lost and take a lot of pictures. Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery is free to enter, and a visit can be combined with a wander around the nearby craft market, if you visit on the weekend, and lunch or coffee in one of the nearby cafes or restaurants.