Best churches in Buenos Aires

Next, we will take a tour of the best churches in Buenos Aires, those that stand out for their beauty and history.

The majority religion in Argentina is Catholicism due to the Spanish conquest of the territory. During that time, colonial churches were built, many of which still stand today. Additionally, the great constructions of Buenos Aires’ golden age from the late 19th to the early 20th century are added.

You will find a wide variety of styles such as neo-Gothic, neo-Renaissance, neo-Romanesque, and others more modern. Below, we propose a list of the most beautiful churches in Buenos Aires.

Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento

It is located in the Retiro neighborhood, just meters from Plaza San Martín. It was built with the contribution of María Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena, belonging to a prominent aristocratic family.

The work was completed in 1914 and gathers different styles, combining Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance, and Byzantine.

Inside, it houses what is considered the best organ in the country, built by the Frenchman Cavaillé-Coll, who also built the organ of Notre Dame de Paris. There are organ concerts periodically, offering a great opportunity to visit this basilica.

Learn more about this basilica and take a tour on our Free Recoleta Tour.

Basílica de María Auxiliadora y San Carlos Borromeo

This architectural gem was inaugurated in 1910 in the Almagro neighborhood by the Salesian community. Carlos Gardel and Ceferino Namuncurá sang in the choir organized by the community.

From the outside, it does not stand out much, but upon entering, you will encounter a wonderful work of art. Like the Blessed Sacrament, it has an eclectic style, mostly Gothic, but with Romanesque and Byzantine ornamentation. It has large windows that allow the passage of sunlight and many colors that distinguish it from the other churches of Buenos Aires.

Basilica Nuestra Señora del Pilar

When we talked about the picturesque colonial churches that are still standing in the city, Nuestra Señora del Pilar is one of them. It is located in the Recoleta neighborhood, next to the famous Recoleta Cemetery.

This colonial church maintains its simple and historic structure with intact wooden baroque altars over time. Fortunately, it did not undergo the same fate as other colonial churches that were covered in the 19th century, thus maintaining its original architecture.

This church, which was born as a convent of the Franciscans, is one of the highlighted attractions of our Free Recoleta Tour.

Buenos Aires Cathedral

Undoubtedly, the most important church in the city is the Buenos Aires Cathedral, located in the heart of the city, around Plaza de Mayo. The cathedral underwent multiple reconstructions and currently looks more like a Roman temple than a Catholic church thanks to its facade with 12 columns and a frieze representing Patriarch Joseph.

Inside the cathedral, you will find the mausoleum of General San Martín, a hero of the nation.

The Buenos Aires Cathedral is part of our Free Historic Center Tour. If you are interested in reading more about the Cathedral, you can visit this article.

Church of San Ignacio

The oldest church in the city is located in the Montserrat neighborhood, in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires. It is the only colonial church in the center that has maintained its essence.
It was built in 1822 by the Jesuits and is part of the “Manzana de las Luces” (Block of Enlightenment). It is the oldest building in Buenos Aires, as adobe ones have not survived.

In 1955, in response to the bombings by the armed forces that left 300 civilians dead and marked the beginning of the coup d’état, Peronist supporters decided to set fire to several temples in the city, including the Church of San Ignacio. This was due to the relationship that the Catholic Church had with the military. In fact, the planes that bombed Plaza de Mayo had the motto “Christ Conquers.”

The Church of San Ignacio is the starting point of our Free San Telmo Tour. Join this tour and learn its history.

Tell us, which churches do you consider the most beautiful in Buenos Aires?

Map of the churches