Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced, Buenos Aires

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced or Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Spain. The present building dates back to 1783 and it was declared a basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1917.

The first church built on the site of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced was by the Mercedarian Friars in 1603. The Mercedarians belonged to the Order of Our Lady of Mercy and along with many other catholic orders left Argentina as a result of the ecclesiastic reforms of 1822. It became a major place of worship for politicians and military personnel in the city after it passed into the hands of the catholic diocese.

The building of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced has a combination of Baroque and Rococo styles. It is noted for its baroque style grand altar and the frescoes that adorn its walls. The external tympanum depicts the victory of the Argentine army against the Spanish in Tucuman in 1812 under General Belgrano. The carved sand colored façade was added in 1905 shortly before it was declared a basilica. Many of the artifacts within the church were destroyed during the anti church riots of 1955. One important icon that survived is a polychrome wood Cristo de la Humildad y Paciencia that was carved from a single tree by an indigenous craftsman.