![\"Recoleta](\"http:\/\/www.recoletacemetery.com\/images\/201011F01.jpg\" "\\"Recoleta")
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An artisanal restoration for Recoleta Cemetery<\/em><\/p>\n The fa\u00e7ade & principal building have been recovered. And an unused entrance on Jun\u00edn Street has opened.<\/p>\n By Romina Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND ITS NEW LOOK.<\/strong><\/p>\n It occupies a little more tan five hectares, but in its vaults, mausoleums and streets the nation\u2019s history can be summed up. Today, Recoleta Cemetery receives 500,000 tourists per year & this interest, added to the value of its architecture and history, makes it one of the three most important in the world, along with P\u00e9re Lachaise<\/strong> in Paris and Staglieno <\/strong>in Genoa. As of this week, the fa\u00e7ade & the cemetery\u2019s main building sport a complete & rigorous restoration. Works lasted for more than 10 months and were done as artisanal as possible, with specialist restoration experts & architects.<\/p>\n \u201cThe works were based, above all else, in the refit and recovery of the main building, where there were issues with humidity, among other damage caused by the passage of time. The fa\u00e7ade was restored, the chapel, the main access and administration offices, whose walls face Jun\u00edn & Vicente L\u00f3pez, even an old entrance on that last street which was in poor condition was restored so that it looks as it was originally built\u2026 even the bell was restored,\u201d explained architect Antonio Costantino<\/strong>, head of the Department of Works of the General Office of Cemeteries.<\/p>\n A variety of works of art were also highlighted. Works were carried out by the Ministry of Public Space with the collaboration of various entities, such as the Department of Historical Heritage, the Department of Urban Interpretation, the National Commission of Museums, Monuments & Historic Places, among others. A total sum of $2,200,000 pesos was invested.<\/p>\n Present for the unveiling of the works was mayor Mauricio Macri<\/strong>, the Minister of Public Space, Diego Santilli<\/strong> & local residents. \u201cIn this cemetery lie several of our best men & women, as well as the loved ones of many locals,\u201d expressed Santilli. \u201cFor that reason we decided, after eight years without any project, to invest in order to revitalize it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The cemetery, unique for its architectural variety\u2014which parallels that of the city of Buenos Aires according to the architect Costantino\u2014was inaugurated in 1822. The principal entrance can be found at Jun\u00edn 1760 and more than 70 vaults have been declared National Historic Monuments<\/a>. The most visited, say the caretakers, is the tomb of Eva Per\u00f3n<\/a>, who has rested in peace here since 1976 after her embalmed cadaver\u2019s long journey.<\/p>\n But there are also other historic personalities, like Manuel Dorrego<\/a> & his enemy, General Juan Lavalle<\/a>, the caudillo<\/em> from La Rioja province Facundo Quiroga<\/a> and his rival, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento<\/a>, Nobel Prize winner Luis Leloir<\/a> and even the ghost of Rufina Cambaceres<\/a>\u2026 an urban legend which is repeatedly told in every visit.<\/p>\n Addendum by Robert:<\/strong> Unfortunately the media version does not tell the whole story. Read about the staircase destruction<\/a> first, then the rain damage<\/a>, followed by the restoration process<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An artisanal restoration for Recoleta Cemetery The fa\u00e7ade & principal building have been recovered. And an unused entrance on Jun\u00edn Street has opened. By Romina…<\/p>\n