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Recoleta Cemetery

Our top-selling guide! Visit the top places to rest in peace in Buenos Aires while learning about lifestyles of the rich & (in)famous.



Recoleta Cemetery ranks as one of the main attractions in Buenos Aires & with good reason. Its list of occupants reads like a Who’s Who of Argentine history & society. The elite, aspiring middle class, friends, enemies & those who contributed to the general welfare of Argentina all share space in a miniature city of mausoleums & monuments. But it wasn’t always so grandiose…

Imagine Buenos Aires 200 years ago, before growing into the metropolis it is today. 55,000 inhabitants lived without paved streets, green areas or basic public services. To improve city sanitation, burials inside or near churches were prohibited & this cemetery —the first public burial ground in Buenos Aires— opened in 1822.



Over time, Recoleta Cemetery has changed as much as the city itself & although unpopular at first, the elite eventually came to cherish its intimate location. Ornate family tombs reflect wealth & status. Stroll past Presidents & politicians (some naughty, some nice), Nobel Prize winners, literary greats, entertainers, scientists, military leaders, sports figures & even some who died tragically… generating more than a few urban legends.

Of course this guide includes the cemetery’s most famous resident. Eva María Duarte de Perón —simply Evita to her devotées— had a bizarre post-mortem journey which is described at length. Many other important tombs are included such as Rufina CambacérèsLuis Ángel Firpo, & David Spinetto. The mix of architecture, historical figures & captivating stories may make you want to stay permanently!



Topics discussed in the guide include the foundation of Recoleta Cemetery, details of its current operation, symbolism found inside, plus the most accurate map available. There’s even an Argentina history time line included to put tombs in perspective. For further information, refer to our dedicated sister website: AfterLife. Documenting Recoleta Cemetery since 2007, over 550 posts discuss important family histories as well as current events affecting the cemetery today. To make sense of Argentina’s complicated history, a time line of historical periods has also been included.

Covering 70 tombs & mausoleums, this new digital edition is divided into easy-to-navigate sections of 10 tombs each. Design has been optimized for handheld devices: tablets of all sizes & even cell phones. Our crisp & clean look is easy to use as can be seen in the screen captures below.

Endless Mile, Recoleta Cemetery, guide, PDF, contact sheet
  • Format: PDF, A5 portrait, 60 pages (file size 8.1 Mb). Designed for digital viewing. First released Jan 2010, updated in Jan 2024. This guide may not be redistributed or resold.
  • Duration: The route takes about 2 hours to walk & read at a leisurely pace. You may need extra time to gaze at all the wonderful architecture & take photos.
  • Price: USD 5.99 via PayPal (taxes included). A link to download the PDF file will be sent to your email address after payment is confirmed.



Lonely PlanetThe New York TimesLAN AirlinesDelta Airlines, and the Michelin guide Buenos Aires …Like A Local: “this labor of love is arguably the best guide to Recoleta Cemetery in any language.” Robert even appeared on television, guiding in Recoleta Cemetery for the Globe Trekker television series. He has shown over 1,500 people through the maze of mausoleums… join in & enjoy the walk!





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