Visting Recoleta cemetery (7-Jan-2008) For those of you not familiar with Buenos Aires, the idea of visiting a cemetery might sound a bit dull. But the Cementerio Recoleta is not just any old cemetery. It has a spectacular array of glorious tombs and monuments from the rich and famous of Argentina's past. I've been there before but decided to go back today for a better look around. It is huge - so much so that despite the large numbers of tourists and locals visiting the grounds, you can always find a little alleyway around some corner where there is no-one else in site.  That's not the case when in comes to Eva Perón's tomb - people flock to the area where Argentina's most famous First Lady rests. Evita's body disappeared for 16 years a couple of years after her death and later spent nearly two years in Spain at the house of her then exciled widower Juan Perón, before finally returning to Argentina and being burried in the Duarte family tomb. Some of Recoleta Cemetery's other famous names are former presidents such as Carlos Pellegrini and Bartolomé Mitre and others, politician and writer Vicente López, and numerous writers and poets such as José Hernandez, Oliverio Girondo and Adolfo Bioy Casares.  Without knowing anything about the famous people burried at Recoleta Cemetery I think you can easily spend an hour or two wandering around the place and admiring the splendid tombs. But if you've studied Argentinian history, religion, art or architecture then you might well want to make several visits in order to explore the whole cemetery in detail. I think the best time to go is in the morning when it's not so hot outside and before too many other people arrive. If you do visit during the heat of the day then luckily there are lots of cafés nearby where you can enjoy a cool drink afterwards.  cementerio recoleta | recoleta cemetery | buenos aires attractions
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