Illuminated Block 🇦🇷

Located in the historical Monserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Illuminated Block (Manzana de las Luces) offers you an intriguing journey into Argentina's rich colonial and post-colonial past. First established by the Society of Jesus in 1608, this remarkable multi-faceted landmark evolved into the city's intellectual and civic heart. When you visit, you will explore a location that housed colonial Buenos Aires's only classical academy, its very first pharmacy, its first printing press, and its first natural sciences museum.

You can see the Saint Ignatius Church, a stunning baroque structure completed in 1722, alongside the adjoining College of St. Ignatius designed by architect Juan Kraus. As you walk through these historic grounds, you are walking through the birthplace of the University of Buenos Aires, the General Archive, and early assemblies of the Argentine National Congress.

You will also learn about the fascinating network of five underground tunnels built beneath the former mission to transport supplies during sieges and facilitate peacetime smuggling. Recognized as a National Historic Monument in 1942, the Illuminated Block provides you with an authentic, unmissable connection to the foundational history, architecture, and political evolution of Buenos Aires.

What to see at Illuminated Block

• Saint Ignatius Church, a baroque structure completed in 1722
• The historic underground tunnels once used for smuggling and wartime supply lines
• The site of Argentina's first medical school, pharmacy, and printing press
• The original birthplace of the University of Buenos Aires and early National Congress

Visiting tips

Be sure to look for the landmark's historical underground tunnel network, three catacombs of which were extensively restored in 1983.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Illuminated Block is easy to reach on Buenos Aires’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Colón Theater and Cabildo of Buenos Aires. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Buenos Aires travel guide.