Plaza Marcos Sastre

Beneath the rustling leaves of the Ombú trees, a secret lies buried beneath Plaza Marcos Sastre. Right here in Villa Urquiza, this tranquil green space holds a history more intriguing than meets the eye. Plaza Marcos Sastre isn’t just a place for afternoon mate and catching up with friends. It’s a place where the past whispers secrets to those who listen closely. Before the laughter of children and the murmur of conversations, this very ground held the departed. From 1875 to 1898, Plaza Marcos Sastre was a cemetery. Imagine the scene, horse-drawn carriages carrying their somber cargo, families gathered in mourning. This was Belgrano’s second cemetery, a final resting place for many. Then, in 1898, concerns for public health arose. The city declared the cemetery closed. The remains were to be moved, the land repurposed. It took until 1922 for the last of the departed to find new resting places. The transformation was complete. The once-somber cemetery became Plaza Marcos Sastre, a vibrant hub of life. The plaza is named after Marcos Sastre, a Uruguayan-born Argentine writer. He was a champion of culture and freedom. Sastre, along with other literary giants, founded the Salón Literario in 1837. This literary salon became the cradle of the Generation of ’37, a group of intellectuals who shaped Argentine thought. So, as you stroll through Plaza Marcos Sastre, remember the layers of history beneath your feet. This isn’t just a park. It’s a testament to the passage of time. It is a place where life and death, past and present, intertwine beneath the shade of the trees.