Jesuit Estancia of Alta Gracia, Argentina
Estancia of Alta Gracia, of 1643, located in the very heart of that locality, is surely the one of greater activity at the present time. The temple is today the parochial church of the city and in the Residence it works the National Museum "House of the Viceroy Liniers". In addition, it highlights the famous tajamar that has happened to be an identifying element of Alta Gracia. The origin of the Estancia of Alta Gracia is in the donation made by Don Alonso Nieto de Herrera of his personal stay at the time of entering the Company of Jesus in 1643. Taking advantage of this rural establishment, the Jesuits develop a new plan of constructions that serve the desired productive purposes. Especially for the creation of a obraje intended for textile production, although agriculture and livestock, especially the trade of
Mules, were the bases of its economy.
After the expulsion of the Company, it was acquired by successive private owners (one of them Don Santiago de Liniers, former viceroy of the Rio de la Plata and hero of the struggles against the English invaders in 1807). Don Manuel Solares decided to subdivide the lands surrounding the hull of the estancia, giving rise to the city of Alta Gracia.
After declaring it as a National Historic Monument in 1941, the National Government acquired the residential constructions of the hull in 1968, earmarking them to the National Museum "Casa del Virrey Liniers".
Estancia of Alta Gracia includes the church (now the parish church of the town), the residence (present National Museum "House of the Viceroy Liniers") with its courtyards and annexes, the obraje, the tajamar, the ruins of the mill and the old oven on the first wall of the ditch system. The church stands out for its Baroque plant and its ornate interior (where the great altarpiece of the high altar stands out, with its solomonic columns and elaborate crowning, as well as the pulpit carved in wood), its dome without drum and its facade extremely elaborated, with a profile of interrupted curves and the strong presence of paired pilasters reminiscent of late Italian baroque. Unique in Argentina for its façade without towers and for the widening of its cruise, gathering the linear plant with an oval scheme. The contiguous residence, developed on an "L" floor, stands out for its vaulted galleries that run through the main façade, through the large access staircase from the patio, the baroque crowning that resumes the forms of the church facade, and by the access portal from the street to the main courtyard.
Mules, were the bases of its economy.
After the expulsion of the Company, it was acquired by successive private owners (one of them Don Santiago de Liniers, former viceroy of the Rio de la Plata and hero of the struggles against the English invaders in 1807). Don Manuel Solares decided to subdivide the lands surrounding the hull of the estancia, giving rise to the city of Alta Gracia.
After declaring it as a National Historic Monument in 1941, the National Government acquired the residential constructions of the hull in 1968, earmarking them to the National Museum "Casa del Virrey Liniers".
Estancia of Alta Gracia includes the church (now the parish church of the town), the residence (present National Museum "House of the Viceroy Liniers") with its courtyards and annexes, the obraje, the tajamar, the ruins of the mill and the old oven on the first wall of the ditch system. The church stands out for its Baroque plant and its ornate interior (where the great altarpiece of the high altar stands out, with its solomonic columns and elaborate crowning, as well as the pulpit carved in wood), its dome without drum and its facade extremely elaborated, with a profile of interrupted curves and the strong presence of paired pilasters reminiscent of late Italian baroque. Unique in Argentina for its façade without towers and for the widening of its cruise, gathering the linear plant with an oval scheme. The contiguous residence, developed on an "L" floor, stands out for its vaulted galleries that run through the main façade, through the large access staircase from the patio, the baroque crowning that resumes the forms of the church facade, and by the access portal from the street to the main courtyard.