Recoleta Cultural Center

You’ve arrived at the entrance of the Recoleta Cultural Center. This site originally belonged to a group of buildings run by the Recollects, a Franciscan order of monks who were given this plot of land in 1716. Before you is the oldest colonial building in the city. The exterior was designed by a German architect, while the interior by an Italian one. The church dedicated to Our Lady of Pilar, just next door, was added later, funded by a wealthy merchant by the name of Narbona. In the early 19th century, however, the Recollect convent was seized by the governor. Over the years, it was transformed into a Drawing Academy, an agricultural school, a prison, military barracks and an asylum for the homeless – a great project initiated by the Intendant of Buenos Aires, Señor Alvear. He would go on to design the surrounding green space, inspired by the Buttes Chaumonts Park in Paris. The truly substantial building work started in 1880 with the construction of the Gothic chapel you can see at the rear of the building. Today, it houses the El Aleph auditorium, named after Borges’ famous short story collection. The building was listed as a historical monument in 1948 and, in 1979, the city council turned it over to the Ministry of Culture, which is how it became the cultural centre it is today. It’s a truly special place, always evolving, full of greenery and bathed in natural light. You can read, enjoy a coffee, visit exhibitions, or attend one of the many shows held here. It’s a lot more than a museum or an art gallery; it’s an experimental space for all forms of art. Plus, in the spirit of cultivating cultural appreciation, the space is free to the public. What are you waiting for? Come and explore the former cells of the Recollects!