Santos Lugares

A bustling hub nestled northwest of Buenos Aires city proper, Santos Lugares whispers tales of intriguing history. Santos Lugares wasn’t always a singular entity. It began as a trio of distinct communities: Villa Pablo Giorello, Villa Lacroze, and Villa Excelsior. Imagine Santos Lugares in 1906 as these small villages begin to sprout their first homes. Businesses soon followed. Domingo Muñoz’s Casa de Comidas, the bakery La Republicana, Olvar’s Fonda, Manuel Dellepiane’s materials store, and the shop La Lucha all sprung up, painting a vibrant picture of early commerce. Remarkably, the oldest surviving business, the Estrada Pharmacy, originally called Farmacia Los Rodriguez, still stands from its 1909 founding. Santos Lugares quickly gained essential community fixtures. In 1907, School No. 14 (now No. 19) opened its doors, followed by School No. 17 (now No. 6) in 1909. Dr. Atilio Carbone, the first physician, arrived in 1921, and Dr. Dionisio Canepa opened his practice in 1925. Both are immortalized in Santos Lugares street names. The 1914 census revealed a population of 4,600, with a significant 45.8% being foreigners, predominantly Italian and Spanish. This rich cultural blend shaped the town’s character, influencing its growth and evolution. One of the earliest community organizations was the short-lived Sociedad Mutualista Italiana, established in 1907. This was followed by the Sociedad de Fomento in 1908 and the Sociedad Cultural y de Fomento Edilicio Pablo Giorello in 1928. Much later, in 1996, the Centro Cultural Andalucía was founded. The iconic Casa Museo Ernesto Sábato stands as a testament to the literary giant who called Santos Lugares home from 1945. Built in 1927 and designed by Federico Valle, this house museum offers a glimpse into Sábato’s life, work, and the very environment that inspired his masterpieces. Here, amidst his personal belongings, writings, paintings, and extensive library, one can almost sense the presence of the man who penned “El Túnel,” “Sobre héroes y tumbas,” and “Abaddón el exterminador.” Sábato, a resident for almost half a century, found inspiration in Santos Lugares’s unassuming charm. He famously declared, “I feel like a person of this community.” Santos Lugares, a place where history, literature, and community intertwine.