Address: Alsina y Defensa s/n – Monserrat
There is a historic-religious city center that has the most representative churches of the three emblematic religious orders that were installed during the first times of the city: Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans.
The latter ordered to build a Basílica in the year 1731, that was later inaugurated in the year 1754. There are little remainders of its original form since it was rebuilt on the beginnings of the XVIIth century and in 1911 the German architect Ernesto Sackman changed completely its façade and this is how it looks like nowadays. He replaced the neoclassic style that defined its outer structure with a highly decorative baroque façade contrasting with the austerity in its interior. The St. Francisco de Asis figure stands out in the center, accompanied by three images: Christopher Columbus kneeling, Giotto above the latter and Dante Alighieri on the left. The three were considered worthy of said place for being lay Fransiscans.
In 1955 there was a fire that destroyed the main altar and its altarpiece. During the restoration it was decided that a big tapestry would be hanged before it. It is considered to be one of the biggest tapestries in the world (8x12m), the artist Horacio Butler created it and the work’s title is “St. Francisco’s glorification”.
The atrium is shared with St. Roque Chapel (next to the St. Francisco Basilica) that is open on the 16th day of each month on order to celebrate its patron’s day. This is a little one-nave chapel that dates back from the beginnings of the XVIIth century.
