Casa de Diego Caseros

In the heart of El Palomar, a suburb of Buenos Aires, stands the Casa de Diego Caseros. This unassuming house holds a pivotal place in Argentine history. The Casa de Diego Caseros wasn’t always known by this name. It was originally part of a vast estate owned by a man named Diego Casero, who purchased the land in 1781. He built the main house in 1788, a 24-room structure complete with a mirador, or observation tower. The surrounding land, flourishing with 130,000 fruit trees, became known as Monte Caseros. Over time, “Casero” evolved into “Caseros”, giving the house and the area their current name. The Casa de Diego Caseros played a significant role in the Battle of Caseros in 1852. It served as a headquarters for the Federalist army, led by Juan Manuel de Rosas. Protected by artillery and infantry, the house became a strategic stronghold. The battle raged, and the house was eventually taken by the opposing forces, becoming a field hospital during and after the conflict. Ironically, it was within the walls of Casa de Diego Caseros, years after the battle, that the preliminary meetings for the Pact of San José de Flores took place. This pact marked Buenos Aires’ agreement to join the Argentine Confederation, a significant step towards national unity after the divisive Rosas era. The original owner’s descendants donated the house and surrounding ten hectares to the state. Today, the restored Casa de Diego Caseros stands as a museum, declared a historical site in 1942. Inside, you can explore rooms filled with artifacts from the Battle of Caseros. You can see weapons, cannonballs, and personal belongings. You can even find a replica of the uniform worn by Mariscal Francisco Solano López. The nearby dovecote, also built by Diego Casero, stands as a unique circular structure with countless brick nests, still home to a flock of doves.