Buenos Aires, like many major cities worldwide, is divided up into many neighbourhoods or “barrios”. On our recent trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Russ and I got to explore some of these neighbourhoods and I will create a short series on them.
Recoleta is known for its expensive shops, cafes and parks and the famous Recoleta Cemetery, where several famous Argentine’s are buried, including Evita Peron. The cemetery centres infront of a square where many local restaurants and night clubs are situated. The cemetery “was designed by Prospero Catelin of France, following a proposal by Bernardino Rivadavia, and opened in 1822 as a public cemetery for ordinary citizens.” [wiki]
Recoleta is also known as one of the most expensive neighbourhoods to live in, with the cost of real-estate, pricey restaurants and fashion designer adding to the cost of living. This is also the neighbourhood where I was born. Alas I can’t recall the name of the hospital my mother told me I was born in.
As most neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires, Recoleta’s streets are lined with trees and every few blocks you are greeted with a park with huge full grown trees and you are always treated to a sculpture of some sort. One of the most famous sculptures is the Floralis Genérica, located in United Nations Park in Recoleta. This was created by Eduardo Catalano and is a metallic flower who’s petals open and close based on the incidence of solar rays.
The buildings rage from french style in architecture to more modern buildings.
We were lucky to have this as our base camp when we were in the city. Our hotel, Park Chateau Hotel, was located on a quiet street and a few short minutes from all that Recoleta had to offer.
