Thousands of people pass by the Recoleta Cemetery every day without noticing that, right next door, on the white facade of a colonial church, there is a clock as old as the history of Buenos Aires. That white colonial-style facade is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar , and its clock—one of the first public clocks in South America— is nearly 300 years old and can be visited for free.
Recoleta is home to one of the oldest buildings in Buenos Aires
The Basilica del Pilar is one of the oldest buildings in Buenos Aires still standing and dates back to 1732. If you want to know what Buenos Aires was like 300 years ago, the Basilica del Pilar remains almost as it was originally and is like traveling back in a time capsule to the 19th century. This colonial church in Recoleta retains its white colonial walls, its Baroque lines, and its façade typical of 18th-century Spanish-American architecture.
Around it began to appear what is now the symbol of Recoleta’s architecture: Belle Époque palaces, French-style mansions, luxury hotels, and the cemetery, one of its major attractions.
However, what many people don’t know is that the Basilica of Buenos Aires, one ofthe oldest buildings in Buenos Aires, has a museum and an ancient giant clock, and you can visit both for free.
The nearly 300-year-old clock that witnessed the birth of Buenos Aires
You can see the clock of the Basilica of Recoleta on its facade at a glance, and it is one of the most fascinating colonial treasures in Buenos Aires. This public clock was installed in 1740, eight years after the church’s inauguration, and was built in London by master clockmaker Thomas Windmills.
Beyond its nearly 300 years—which it will celebrate in 2040—this 18th-century clock operates thanks to a two-meter-long pendulum and ten-kilogram lead weights. It may not seem so significant today, but when the clock first began to mark the hour, Buenos Aires was not the city we see today. Carts traveled through its streets, and there were country estates and open fields. Having a clock that told the time was a major advance for colonial Buenos Aires.
A museum with free admission to discover 19th-century Buenos Aires
A tour of the Basilica del Pilar museum is a 200-year journey into the city’s past. In this museum, which you can visit for free, you’ll see 18th-century works of art, silverware and sacred art, furniture, important relics, and details of what Recoleta and the city were like from their origins to the present day. In addition, a tour of this museum offers unique views of the Recoleta Cemetery and the main nave.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar is located at Junín 1904, right across from the main entrance to the cemetery and next to Plaza Francia. Admission is free, and the clock can be seen from the sidewalk, at the top of the facade. Did you know that this church and its clock witnessed the British invasions and the revolution?
- Museum hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. First Sunday of the month from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
- Guided tours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 4 p.m.
- Guided tours for schools or large groups: email museoclaustrosdelpilar@gmail.com