Villa España

“A train stop,” the old-timer chuckled, “that’s how Villa España started.” He pointed a gnarled finger towards the bustling heart of Villa España. “Can you imagine? This vibrant town, born from a humble request for a train stop.” Villa España, a locality in Berazategui, within the sprawling embrace of Greater Buenos Aires, owes its existence to the families of Spanish descent who settled here around 1910. Families like the Oliveras, who acquired parcels of land from an auctioned dairy farm, laid the foundation for this community. In 1912, a railway line was constructed, connecting Berazategui and Bosques stations. The land for the present-day Villa España station was granted to the railway company. This “stop,” as it was initially called, became the nucleus around which the town grew. The small community requested that the stop retain the name Villa España, a testament to their shared heritage. This request was honored, and the station became known as “Estación Villa España.” The town’s boundaries encompassed eleven blocks from north to south. Streets like Atanasio Lanz (now Calle 24), Bartolomé Mitre, La Gran Vía (26), San Martín, Belgrano (28), R. de Altamira (29), Covadonga (30), Barcelona, Islas Malvinas, and Sevilla (Avenida Eva Perón) formed its early framework. The remaining road was simply known as the “road to Ranelagh.” The inauguration of the train stop was a grand affair. Celebrated with much fanfare, the event hosted distinguished guests like the Spanish writer Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and historian Rafael de Altamira. Kerosene lamps, perched atop posts, illuminated the streets and station. Near the station, in the area known as “San Francisco,” stood a school founded by Atanasio Lanz. Originally located at the intersection of Lanz and Cristóbal Colón (formerly Calle 1 and 29), it was designated School No. 4. With Berazategui’s autonomy, it became School No. 1, a nod to its historical significance. A modest chapel, “La Capilla,” graced the corner of Lanz and Andalucía. Mass was held only on Sundays, officiated by priests traveling from the capital. This chapel later evolved into the “Nuestra Señora de Luján” church. Villa España’s development was gradual. Street lighting, extending to the train station, arrived in 1932. The first paved streets, Lanz and Colón, appeared in 1960. The area now known as “Barrio Luchetti” was once the Gargarello estate. It stretched from Reina Victoria Street to Falucho (formerly 39, now 140) and from Belgrano (141) to the railway tracks. The Sociedad de Fomento “Villa España,” founded in 1926 in the station’s waiting room, played a crucial role in the town’s progress. This organization, along with cultural and sporting clubs like the Club Social y Deportivo “Villa España” (founded in 1941) and “La Unión de Villa España” (founded in 1951), contributed significantly to Villa España’s growth. From a simple train stop, Villa España blossomed into a thriving community, a testament to the vision and dedication of its residents.