City of the Dead: La Recoleta

Posted on 14. Feb, 2012 by in Destinations, Photos, South America

I’m not sure what it says about Buenos Aires that one of it’s biggest tourist attractions is a cemetery. I can’t really think of anywhere else, even London with it’s gorgeous Victorian graveyards, where tourists flock to a cemetery in such high numbers.

Of course, I can’t really think of any cemeteries quite like Recoleta:

The place well lives up to it’s reputation as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. Each tomb is a unique work of art, an individual memorial to a person or family. Not all of them are quite as fancy as the one above (my personal favorite), but they run the full gamut from sedate and stately to flashy and elaborate. Some are in pristine condition and some are pretty dilapidated:

Of course the biggest celebrity in Recoleta is Eva Peron. Tourists flock to her tomb, despite the fact that it definitely falls under the more boring design category:

Honestly though, there’s so much more to see in La Recoleta than Evita’s little plaque. A couple hours wandering the blocks of tombs leads to all sorts of details and discoveries:

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19 Responses to “City of the Dead: La Recoleta”

  1. Cynthia

    14. Feb, 2012

    I remember wandering around all the cemetery. It’s actually a very nice, peaceful place. Even when it’s too hot to walk. And there are cats everywhere.

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  2. Nicole

    14. Feb, 2012

    wow – incredible photos. i want to go there.

    also, Arlington Cemetery is another one that draws crowds!

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  3. Dana

    14. Feb, 2012

    This looks gorgeous, love the pictures!
    Sometimes I get a little spooked out going to cemetaries… but it always seems worth it in the end :)

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  4. Shtina

    14. Feb, 2012

    Amazing photos!! I had no idea the graveyard was so extensive and the tombs so elaborate. Thanks!

    I’ve never been to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris but that gets a lot of traffic too. (Instead of Evita, it has Jim Morrison I guess….)

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    • Steph

      16. Feb, 2012

      I’ve not been but I have the feeling that’s the only cemetery that can come close.

      Reply to this comment

  5. Unisse

    14. Feb, 2012

    Wow! It’s amazing how cemeteries could be so beautiful too. I guess it’s better they’re pretty than scary looking.

    I can’t say the same for cemeteries here in the Philippines though. I’d love to visit different cemeteries all over the world and see how people actually keep their dead pampered. :)

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  6. Andi of My Beautiful Adventures

    14. Feb, 2012

    Gorgeous pics of one of my favorite places in the world. I could spend hours there.

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  7. Emily in Chile

    15. Feb, 2012

    I love the effect of the light coming through the stained glass onto the sidewalk.

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  8. Amanda

    15. Feb, 2012

    One doesn’t usually associate the word “beautiful” with a cemetery, but that’s exactly what I’d call this one! Some great photos here.

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  9. John

    15. Feb, 2012

    When I used to live in Argentina I enjoyed visiting both Recoleta and Chacarita. On the weekends they are packed with tourists, but on weekdays they are very quiet and great places to contemplate.

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  10. Gaby

    16. Feb, 2012

    What a totally beautiful place! These pics are great! Thanks for sharing!
    -Gaby

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  11. Someday I'll Be There - Mina

    17. Feb, 2012

    i just love cemeteries, i don’t know why but they always attract me, specially ones that are as beautiful as this one. they r just so relaxing in a weird kind of way :D

    Reply to this comment

  12. Dani

    25. Feb, 2012

    Reminds me of the cemetery in Montmartre, Paris. Can’t wait to get to Buenos Aires- I’ve been wanting to visit Recoleta for years!

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  13. Alex

    27. Feb, 2012

    This reminds me I always meant to do a post about the cemeteries in the Cayman Islands and never got around to it. The graves (?) were all boxy above ground tombs, lined up neatly and painted white. But they looked so beautiful against a background of tacky but colorful fake flowers, real palm trees, and the blue ocean. Different from anything I had seen before.

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