Ever wonder what secrets lie hidden within a statue? Here at the Basilica de San Francisco, prepare to uncover a captivating tale of faith, architecture, and a curious time capsule.
The Basilica de San Francisco de Asis belongs to the Franciscan order since 1583. This was not long after the second founding of Buenos Aires. Juan de Garay ceded the land to the order in 1580. The land included the block bordered by Defensa, Alsina, Balcarce, and Moreno streets.
Initially, a modest church was built. Its materials were not very durable. The definitive construction occurred between 1731 and 1754. The project was led by Jesuit Andrés Blanqui. He was one of the most important architects of the colonial era. Blanqui also designed the Church of San Ignacio de Loyola. It is just a block away. He also designed the Church of Pilar, the Church of Nuestra Senora de Belen, and the Cabildo de Buenos Aires.
The facade you see today is from a remodeling. It happened between 1907 and 1911. Architect Ernesto Sackmann gave it a German Baroque style.
Look toward the top of the facade. You will see a sculpture by Antonio Voegele. It shows St. Francis surrounded by Dante Alighieri and painter Giotto. Christopher Columbus kneels before them. All three belonged to the order of St. Francis.
The Basilica de San Francisco shares the atrium with the Chapel of San Roque on its left side. The Basilica de San Francisco, the Chapel of San Roque, and the Secular Franciscan Third Order form the San Francisco Monumental Complex. It was declared a National Historic Monument.
But here is a fascinating secret. In 2007, a time capsule was found. It was inside the sculpture of Dante Alighieri. Restoration work was underway. Workers discovered a small tin can. Inside was a leaf from the La Prensa newspaper from 1908. Also inside was a leaf from an Innsbruck newspaper. Innsbruck was the hometown of the sculpture’s creator. There were coins and an envelope. The envelope read: “I greet whoever finds these writings.”
The letter inside the time capsule describes that the statues were made by the sculptor Antonio Voegele. Voegele was from Innsbruck. He arrived in Buenos Aires 26 years earlier at the age of 22. The architect of the remodeling was Don Ernesto Sackmann. The letter also detailed the cost of each statue and expressed a wish for God and St. Francis to protect the work.
Inside the Basilica de San Francisco, the temple features a unique central nave. It has an elongated shape and shallow side chapels. The original altar is in the right transept. Others date from 1911. The main altar was lost in a fire in 1955. The eighteenth-century Rococo pulpit is a carved marvel by Isidro Lorea. It is adorned with gilded paint.
The Basilica de San Francisco’s dome rises from an octagonal base. The 1772 German organ by Luis Oben fills the space. It fills it with harmonious tones.
So, as you stand before the San Francisco de Asis, remember the layers of history. Consider the architects and artists who shaped it. Think about the message from the past. It waited patiently to be discovered. This Basilica is more than a building. It is a vessel of stories. It connects us to those who came before.