Palaces of Buenos Aires, a tour of the most important and outstanding buildings of the City.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Buenos Aires has become one of the richest places in the world. At that time, great urban changes were taking place, under the influence of the fashion in architecture and urbanism of France.
Thus, several aristocratic families made the decision to renew their style, moving to the North of Buenos Aires, building their new houses in the neighborhoods of Palermo, Recoleta and Retiro. As a result, a huge collection of majestic palaces grace the streets of the city.
Well now, let’s find out everything about the Palaces of Buenos Aires:
SAN MARTÍN PALACE
Currently, it is the Argentine Chancellery Headquarters. In its origins, it was the home of the Anchorena Family. Its construction was in charge of the architect Alejandro Cristophersen, at the request of María Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena.
It has a huge pointed reception, two staircases that lead to the “piano nobile” or the upper floor. On its façade, the typical characteristics of the School of Beaux Arts in Paris appear.
The Argentine Chancellery acquired this beautiful palace in 1936, naming it as Palacio San Martín, under the function of being the Headquarters of the country’s Diplomacy.
PAZ PALACE
Its 12,000 square meters transformed it into the largest Palace in the city. It was the home of the founder of La Prensa newspaper, José Camilo Paz.
The façade of this site has the air of a stronger French Chateau, with elegant crowns and high walls. The main door is one of the great jewels of the city, and it is through it that you access the huge round hall, which stands intact and draws the eyes of everyone who visits it.
Currently, this Palace is owned by the Círculo Militar. Visits are by appointment. We leave you here their website for more information.
ORTÍZ BASUALDO PALACE
Considered the finest in the city, with a huge dome with a lamp that adorns the end of Avenida Alvear, on the border between Retiro and Recoleta. The decoration of this place was in charge of the most important and famous decoration house in history, Manson Jansen of Paris, in addition to having been built by the Ortíz Basualdo family.
Here, the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, rested on his visit to the country.
This space was bought by the French State in 1939, to have it as its official Embassy. The same state that opposed its demolition in the 1970s for the construction of the Illia Highway. Thanks to that, today we can continue to contemplate it.
PEREDA PALACE
Currently, it is the Brazilian Embassy, but originally it was the place where Celedonio Pereda lived. The same one who wanted a Palace with a facade like the National Museum of France that is in Paris.
The ceilings are the work of the painter José María Sert, a renowned Catalan artist.
The President of Brazil, Getulio Vargas, stayed here in the 1930s, so in 1945, before the death of Mr. Pereda, the State of Brazil bought the building to have its official Embassy.
ALZAGA UNZUE PALACE
When Félix Saturnino de Álzaga and Elena Peña Unzué got married, they bought this extremely elegant mansion.
Currently, it is the La Mansion Suite of the Four Seasons Hotel, one of the most luxurious places to stay in the city. World famous celebrities like the Rolling Stones and Madonna have paraded there.
If you attend the Hotel Restaurant, you can enjoy this space!
FERNÁNDEZ ANCHORENA PALACE
At present, it is the Embassy of the Vatican, the renowned Apostolic Nunciature.
In this place, Adelia Harilaos de Olmos, president of the Benefit Society, spent her life with an outstanding, charitable and philaropic work in the country, for which she became one of the most important women in the history of the city.
Organizer of the Eucharistic Congress of 1934, where she was appointed as the Pontifical Marchioness. Upon his death, he donated his house to the Church, where the Nunciature is currently located and, here, Pope John Paul II was housed when he visited the country.
PALACE DUHAU
Currently, it is part of the famous Park Hyatt Hotel, but was previously owned by the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Duhau.
The Hotel maintains the historic building next to a modern one, and in the middle of both, you will find the beautiful terraced park where you can access the Luxury Restaurant of the place.
MAGUIRE RESIDENCE
Anyone who walks along Avenida Alvear, are dazzled by this magnificent mansion. With a very contrasting style, huge bars worked in artisanal iron and exposed brick, it denotes the typical British-style characteristics that make it stand out from the rest of the Palaces that we mentioned.
Currently, it continues to function as a private residence, but in its origins, it was the home of the Scottish railway entrepreneur Alejandro Hume, to later pass into the hands of the Duhau Family.
ERRAZURIZ PALACE
One of the easiest to visit, it stands out for being the most dazzling and largest.
Built at the request of the Chilean diplomat Matías Errazuriz and Josefina de Alvear, by Rene Sergent, famous French architect.
Since 1944, it has been the Museum of Decorative Art, completely open to the public. Here, you will be able to notice the mixture of decorative styles, from the baroque, the neo medieval, reaching the Art Deco. Without a doubt, it deserves you to visit it!
Here we leave their website for more information!
PALACE BOSCH
Another work by Rene Sergent, with the intervention of Carlos Thays in the gardens, was the home of the Bosch Family. Currently, it functions as the United States Embassy, since Ambassador Robert Bliss bought the property from Ernesto Bosch, Chancellor of the Government of Argentina.
He served as a residence permit for several US presidents, including Obama, Bush, Roosevelt, and Eisenhower.
BONUS TRACK
In addition to all those mentioned, there are several other Palaces in the city that you can discover. Here we mention some others, so you can delight yourself with the variety of architecture and sizes: Leloir Palace (Italian Circle), Acevedo Palace (Embassy of Saudi Arabia) and, outside of Buenos Aires, the Casa de Victoria Ocampo.
Several of these Palaces are part of our Recoleta Free Tour. We invite you to join here!
So that you continue to amaze your eyes, here we tell you about the Domes of Buenos Aires!
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