Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church, the oldest Jesuit church
The Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church (Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola) is a Catholic church in the Montserrat district of Buenos Aires, part of the Manzana de las Luces. Raised by the Society of Jesus between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, it is the oldest church to survive in the city: a perfect stop for hidden gems in Buenos Aires.
It is the oldest church still standing in Buenos Aires, and Jesuit tunnels run beneath it, mapped by an architect in 1964. A mob set it on fire in 1955, yet its colonial south tower is still there.
The history of Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church
The first Jesuits reached Buenos Aires in 1608. Their first church and school stood on what is now the Plaza de Mayo, on a plot donated by the Cabildo (the colonial town council). It was built of adobe with reed roofs, the usual method in the early city, where there was neither timber nor stone. It was first dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto and later took the name of Saint Ignatius. The Jesuits stayed there for a little over fifty years, until 1661, when they had to leave for reasons of security and defence of the Fort.
Doña Isabel Carvajal, a childless widow, then donated to the Society the plot now bounded by the streets Perú, Bolívar, Alsina and Moreno. A second church, also of adobe, was finished there in 1675: the date can be read on a piece of marble found during 19th-century works. In 1686, with the output of the first brick kilns of Buenos Aires, the south tower and the front walls of the present church began to rise.
From 1710 the Jesuit architect Juan Krauss, a native of Pilsen, designed the church that survives today, with a late German Baroque façade and two towers. Krauss died in 1714 and other Jesuit architects followed him: Juan Wolff, Juan Bautista Prímoli, Andrés Blanqui and Pedro Weger. Work ran from 1712 to 1722 and the church was consecrated in 1734. It has a central nave with a transept that was very large for its time and interconnected side chapels topped by an upper gallery, the so-called matroneras. It derives from the model of the Gesù in Rome, and its Baroque façade contrasts with a sober interior.
For more than a century it was a stage for the life of the city. Between 1767 and 1791 it served as a provisional cathedral, and again in 1823. On 31 December 1806 a thanksgiving mass was held here for the reconquest of Buenos Aires, and in 1811 the mutiny of the Trenzas was foiled from its tower. In 1821 the University of Buenos Aires was inaugurated in the church, and in 1823 the Sociedad de Beneficencia. The Jesuits returned in 1836 and were expelled again in 1843. Around the middle of the 19th century the north tower, the one with the clock, was completed.
On 21 May 1942 the church was declared a National Historic Monument. On 16 June 1955, after the failed attempt against the government of Juan Domingo Perón, several churches in Buenos Aires were set on fire, San Ignacio among them. In 1993 the end of a restoration centred on the south tower was celebrated, and in July 2012 further works begun in 2009 were completed. In one of the side altars lie the remains of Juan José Castelli, a member of the First Junta of government.
Curious facts about Saint Ignatius Church
- It is the oldest church to survive in Buenos Aires, and its south tower is the oldest surviving structure in the city.
- The first brick kilns of Buenos Aires were set up to build it, since the area had neither timber nor stone.
- In 1964 the architect Héctor Greslebin presented a plan of the tunnels that run beneath the Manzana de las Luces and the church; they are estimated to lie about six metres underground.
- In colonial times the south tower was the tallest in the city and is believed to have served as a lookout over the River Plate.
- With the Metropolitan Cathedral of Montevideo it shares a dome on a square drum over the crossing and double-height side aisles.
- In 1811 the mutiny of the Trenzas, a soldiers' revolt against Manuel Belgrano, was foiled from its tower.
Tours near Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church
- Guided visits are offered and tickets are handled through the official website; check the current opening days and hours before you go.
- Inside, look for the 17th-century high altar, carved in wood and gilded later, and the upper galleries above the side chapels.
- According to the sources one of the Jesuit tunnels of the Manzana de las Luces can be visited today; check its availability.
- Café Tortoni, the Galería Güemes, the Casa de Liniers and the Fort of Buenos Aires are all close by on foot.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church is
Photos of Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church
Questions
What is the Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church in Buenos Aires?
It is a Jesuit Catholic church in the Montserrat district, part of the Manzana de las Luces. It is the oldest church to survive in the city and was declared a National Historic Monument in 1942.
When was Saint Ignatius Church built?
The first church on this site, of adobe, was finished in 1675. The present church was built between 1712 and 1722 and consecrated in 1734.
Who designed it?
The design is by the Jesuit architect Juan Krauss, who died in 1714. Other Jesuits continued the work, among them Juan Wolff, Juan Bautista Prímoli, Andrés Blanqui and Pedro Weger.
Are there tunnels under Saint Ignatius Church?
Yes, a 1964 plan shows tunnels running beneath the Manzana de las Luces and the church. According to the sources one of them can be visited today.
Can you visit the inside of Saint Ignatius Church?
Yes, on guided visits whose tickets are obtained through its website. Days and hours may change, so check them first.
What else is nearby?
In the historic centre, a short walk away, are Café Tortoni, the Galería Güemes, the Casa de Liniers and the Fort of Buenos Aires.
Also nearby
Equestrian monument to General Manuel Belgrano
Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires · the general who turned to avoid the tail
250 m away
House of Culture of Buenos Aires
Avenida de Mayo · the La Prensa palace and its bronze beacon
300 m away
Santo Domingo Convent
Monserrat, Buenos Aires · colonial basilica with Belgrano's tomb
350 m away
Casa de Liniers
Monserrat, Buenos Aires · the colonial house of Viceroy Liniers
350 m away