Did you know that one of Buenos Aires’ most dazzling architectural masterpieces stands in Retiro? The Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament is over 100 years old and is famous for its opulence and neoclassical details, but best of all, you can visit it. We’ll tell you how to join the guided tours of the basilica, where the remains of Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena—one of the most influential figures of the local aristocracy in the early 20th century—rest.
A sacred palace born of the Buenos Aires aristocracy in Retiro
You’ve surely walked past the facade of this basilica many times or seen it from afar, because it’s impossible not to notice its dome and its presence in a neighborhood full of domes and stories like Retiro.
The construction of the church was spearheaded and financed entirely by Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena, one of the most influential figures of Buenos Aires’s aristocracy in the 20th century. Legend has it that Mercedes said, “If I live in a palace, my God must have His own.”
The basilica was designed by the French architects Louis-Auguste Chauvet and Coulomb and stands out for a level of detail and luxury that is hard to match in the region.
Like many palaces of the era, the materials were brought from Europe and include white Carrara marble, blue granite details, bronze, onyx, and Venetian mosaics. The woodwork is Belgian: the confessionals, the pulpit, and the church’s woodwork were hand-carved in the city of Bruges by the Wespelaere workshop.
And, as one would expect, the basilica houses a Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll pipe organ manufactured in Paris with nearly 5,000 pipes—the largest that the French firm has ever installed outside its home country.
In fact, there’s an urban legend connected to the history of the Kavanagh Building, just a few meters away, which is popularly referred to as the architectural obstacle designed to block the view of the temple from the former Anchorena Palace.
What’s included in the guided tour
This Saturday, August 29, there will be a guided tour of the basilica, though guided tours are held regularly throughout the year to help visitors rediscover it.
Unlike a typical self-guided tour, the guided tour allows you to explore nooks and crannies that are normally closed to the general public:
- The Underground Crypt: Located four meters below ground, it serves as a replica of the main church. Among monolithic columns and incredible onyx details lie the remains of Mercedes Castellanos de Anchorena.
- The Sacristy: A corner that preserves the original period furniture and relics.
Key details about the guided tour of the Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament and how to sign up
- Next date: Saturday, August 29 (remember that if you can’t make it on this date, tours are held periodically).
- Advance registration: The link for reservations and availability is available on the Instagram profile @destino.baires.
- Location: San Martín 1039, Retiro, CABA.
