Palacio San José
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Famous not only for its majestic size, but for its rich history as well, Palacio San José, in the province of Entre Ríos, is an incredible Argentine palace. It was originally constructed for General Justo José de Urquiza, and was to be a home for him, his wife, and numerous other family members. Over the years, it would come to house numerous nationally recognized figures, and Urquiza directed the country from his grand home.
Palacio San José, Entre Ríos
It was originally named simply Posta San José, but its pure exquisiteness inspired visitors to refer to it as El Palacio, a name which eventually stuck. It was the first building in the country to have the luxuries of running water (brought from the nearby Gualeguaychú River) and gas-generated light, and has today become the foremost historical attraction in the province, and certainly one of the most important in the entire country.
The estate was built on 2,500 hectares, 20 of which were to be for parks, garden, and a large fruit orchard. In the midst of all the above sits the main building, built in the harmonious Italian Renaissance style. Here, various historic objects are preserved, including documents and sought after objects, all in their original state, inviting visitors to get a taste of the past, simply with their appearance.
The house has over 30 rooms, one of which was where the General was assassinated on April 11th, 1870. The palace is divided into three patios, upon which are distributed the 30 rooms. The main entrance is dominated by a beautiful French-style garden, and the back part has an artificial lake, called the Parque del Lago. There is also a secondary entrance on the north wing, which is located across from a blacksmith, general store, gourmet restaurant, and the departure point for carriage rides around the arbor.
The Patio de Honor was the principal room of the house, surrounded by galleries with Tuscan columns. The rooms surrounding this courtyard were for family use, such as a reception room, a dining room, bedrooms, bathrooms, a game room and an office. This is also where the important visitors would get their incredible amount of attention, including President Domingo Sarmiento in 1870. Today, you can see many different rooms, including the Sala de la Tragedia, where General Urquiza was killed. An altar and religious images, as well as a dedication from his wife, give an emotional tone to the room.
The Patio del Parral is another courtyard, where the service activities were mostly carried out. The rooms off of this patio included quarters for certain employees and certain guests. It was also the commercial office, and military guards controlled the access to the residence from this point. A wrought iron arched walkway and white marble mark this courtyard, including a huge kitchen with a massive circular wood stove in the middle of it. Here there is also the Sala de Prensa, where ads, classifieds and newspaper pages from the 1800s are featured.
The Patio del Posterior is the final courtyard, and was the most frequently used space. On either side you can find the chapel and the general store, as well as the grain mill, the bakery, and the garages. In the northern sector sits the Oratorio de San José, with its delicate architecture. To read more about this place or the province of Entre Rios visit this Argentina travel guide.
Guided visits are perhaps the best way to explore the property, so you can get all the information to truly appreciate the splendor. The property is open everyday, with guided tours at specific times. Contact the property for current times. There are also nighttime visits available during select days throughout the year. The Palacio San José is located in the rural zone of Caseros, in the Uruguay department of Entre Ríos, just 15 kilometers from Concepción del Uruguay.