The Jardín Andaluz at the Museo Larreta is more than a beautiful botanical garden located in Belgrano neighborhood , in Ciudad de Buenos Aires. From the moment they enter it, visitors can travel back in time to the Alhambra, Granada, the source of inspiration for this garden.
It was created in the 1920’s by the French architect and landscaper Achille Duchêne, commissioned by Enrique Larreta, an Argentine writer, scholar and diplomat.
We invite you to explore the hidden secrets of this unmissable place.
The largest in South America
Enrique Larreta and Josefina Anchorena got married in 1900. They went on their honeymoon to Europe and stayed in Granada, in Southern Spain, for ten days. They were captivated by La Alhambra, especially by the Generalife promenade, which was a profound source of inspiration. A few years after they returned, they decided to recreate it in their own residence. Thus, The Jardín Andaluz at the Museo Larreta is the largest Hispano-Islamic garden in South America.
The flora is a true delight for the senses. Some of its main features include:
- Variety: you will find a vast array of species, from majestic trees to delicate flowers.
- Aromatic plants: such as rosemary, thyme and lavender fill the air with a soothing scent, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
- Colours: flowers of all colours create a stunning visual spectacle throughout the four seasons.
- Textures: the leaves, bark and fruits present a great variety of textures to explore.
- Fruit trees: orange trees, lemon trees and other fruit trees provide delicious fruits in season.
Some of the most representative species:
- Shrubs: boxwood, hydrangea, agapanthus create labyrinths and delimit distinct spaces.
- Trees: ginkgo biloba, ombú, cypress, palm trees, bitter orange trees provide shade and vertical dimension to the garden.
- Flowers: roses, jasmines, bougainvilleas. Their colours and fragrances enhance the surroundings.
A fact that perhaps not all visitors to the Jardín Andaluz are aware of, is that, as a heritage site, it complies with the guidelines of the Florence Charter, which serves as the basis for the protection of such spaces. It establishes principles for the conservation and restoration of green areas that, due to their historical and artistic value, constitute true monuments.
A fusion of cultures
Originally, this residence was a summer villa surrounded by fruit trees. However, when Enrique Larreta acquired it, he remodelled the interior to reflect his aesthetic preferences, inspired by the Spanish Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Larreta turned the villa surrounded by fruit trees into an Andalusian-style garden, whose aesthetics fuse the Roman and Moorish worlds. fuses the Roman and Muslim worlds.
The most significant feature is the variety of plants, a tradition rooted in a religious practice of making offerings to the gods or paying tribute to the deceased, by placing a plant that represented them. Following the Hispano-Islamic tradition, this kind of gardens are spaces for prayer, meditation and contemplation. Thus, they intend to bring nature inside so their inhabitants find refuge from the bustle of city life by enveloping them in an environment of peace and serenity.
Although the Jardín Andaluz is located one block away from Cabildo and Juramento, an iconic and bustling corner of the City it remains a tranquil haven, that one century later is still chosen daily by countless people that come here looking for a place for relaxation.
The garden occupies around 5.500 m2, and is divided into four sections by bushes that create legendary labyrinths, symbolising earth, air, water and fire.
The Arabs conceived the gardens as the antithesis of the flat and barren desert. Thus, each quadrant evokes patches of virgin jungles, where plants grow as naturally as possible.
Fountains are another key feature of Andalusian gardens. This kind of spaces have a religious element, inviting to prayer, meditation and peaceful reflection. The soft sound of flowing water collaborates with that.
Now that you know a bit more, visit this unique paradise.
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 am to 18 pm. Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 11 am to 18 pm. Closed on rainy or inclement weather days and Tuesdays.
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