Block of Lights

Block located in the district of Monserrat (old district of South Cathedral) of the City of Buenos Aires, determined by the streets Peru St., Alsina St., Bolivar St. and Moreno St.. The entrance is by 272, Peru Street.

Block of Lights

Of great historical value, the Block of Lights , is located in the old district of South Cathedral, inhabited by Buenos Aires' elite of century XIX. Due to its historical importance all the constructions that perform the Block of Lights were declared Place and/or Historical Monument. Its name refers to its condition of intellectual center.
Its history begins in 1661 when the Company of Jesus transferred here its primitive site in the present Plaza de Mayo (May's Square). Until 1767, the jesuitas built this block: Church of San Ignacio and his school (the estate which it would occupy more ahead the National School of Buenos Aires), and the Office of the judge advocate general of the missions. Of the time of the viceroyship were the Viceroy Houses of rent, constructed by the Viceroy Vértiz. And of the independent Room of representatives and the National School of Buenos Aires time.

In the Block of Lights it is possible to visit :_ Room of representatives _ Here, the Provincial Legislature and the National Congress sessioned the meeting of Representatives.
_ Office of the judge advocate general of the missions (corner between Peru St. and Alsina St.) _ Here, worked the administration of the jesuíticas missions, and a pharmacy organized by the Irish jesuita Thomas Falkner. Later they settled here the protomedicato court, that controlled the medicine practice in the country. It lodges the access to the recovered sector of the tunnels.
_ Museum of Site _ During century XVIII, the jesuitas drew up this network of tunnels that underground communicated the buildings located in the present Block of Lights. Qualified for the visitors in 1983. Two tunnels drawn up from south to north were crossed by a third one, with numerous whips or prolongations. Stairs are descended from the ex- Office of the judge advocate general, to the first subsoil and of there to the second subsoil, where crossing of tunnels can be observed.
_ Viceroy Houses of rent (Peru St. and Moreno St.) _ were constructed by the Viceroy Vértiz and in successive years they lodged the first press of the city, the first public library, the general archives, the first branch of the bank of the Province and the faculties of Law and Architecture.
_ Market of Lights (corner Peru St. and Alsina St.) _ Interesting market of crafts.
_ Church of San Ignacio (225, Bolivar Street ) _ In 1675, fourteen years after to have installed in this block, the Company of Jesus concluded the first temple of marinates dedicated to Santa Fundador of the order, located next to builds of the school. It was Cathedral between years 1775 and 1791, after the expulsion of the jesuitas. Here was celebrated the act where the University of Buenos Aires was created the 12 August 1821.
_ National School of Buenos Aires (263, Bolivar Street) _ Is the more prestigious secondary school of the country, depending on the University of Buenos Aires, created in 1863. From their classrooms graduate a lot of people which later would be personalities of the culture and national policy. It occupies the same lot in where towards 1767 the jesuitas raised the Great School of San Ignacio, the first school of the city. There are available some visists where the facilities of the school are visited.