Centro Cultural La Casona

Journey back to the 19th century. Imagine a sprawling agricultural estate, the Chacra de los Remedios, at the heart of what is now Parque Avellaneda. At its center stood a grand mansion, the Centro Cultural La Casona, a testament to a family’s ambition and a city’s evolving history. Centro Cultural La Casona wasn’t always a cultural hub. It began as the heart of the Olivera family’s innovative agricultural venture. In 1870, it underwent a transformation, becoming a luxurious mansion, a gathering place for Buenos Aires’ elite. From the grand terrace, one could oversee the entire Chacra de los Remedios, a strategic vantage point in a time of potential threats. Today, Centro Cultural La Casona is the only remaining estancia house in Buenos Aires, a unique architectural blend of Italianate columns and ornamented facade and French mansard roof. The central staircase speaks to the seigniorial style, a result of renovations overseen by Carlos Olivera, brother of Nicanor and one of Argentina’s first twelve engineers. Centro Cultural La Casona is no longer a setting for Rioplatense social gatherings. It is being restored and repurposed. The Centro de Arte Contemporáneo will showcase modern art within its walls. The Sala de la Memoria, a space dedicated to remembrance, will find its home here. Local artists will gather and create in the Sala Vecinal. A Medioteca and Microcine will further enrich the cultural landscape. Centro Cultural La Casona, along with the old Tambo (dairy farm) and Natatorio (swimming pool), forms the “Chacra de los Remedios” Cultural Complex. This unique space provides training in music, dance, yoga, literature, and plastic arts, all within the historic walls of a 19th-century estancia.