Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The site where the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Convent of Santo Domingo now stand has been occupied by the Dominicans since 1606. However, it wasn’t until 1751 that construction began on the current building, designed by the architect Antonio Masella from Turin. The cornerstone was laid on June 29, but work was slow and uneven due to disagreements between Masella and the Dominican order. Between 1762 and 1779, construction resumed under the patronage and likely direction of Don Juan de Lezica y Torrezuri. The church was finally consecrated on October 17, 1783, although it was still unfinished. Architect Manuel Álvarez Rocha then took over the work, completing the east tower the following year. On February 11, 1792, once enough donations had been collected, work began on the Convent of Santo Domingo itself. It was finished around 1805, as records of expenses stop after that year.

The British Invasions
On June 27, 1806, British forces led by General William Beresford attacked Buenos Aires, catching the city unprepared. On July 1, worship at the church was suspended. Captain Santiago de Liniers promised Friar Gregorio Torres that if Our Lady of the Rosary helped him retake the city, he would donate the flags captured from the invaders. The British were defeated on, and on August 24, Liniers fulfilled his promise by presenting the flags to the church, where they remain today. The British tried to invade again on July 2, 1807. They took refuge in the convent’s east tower, defending themselves against the local militia known as the Tercio de Cántabros Montañeses, commanded by Colonel Pedro Andrés García. This became known as the Battle of Santo Domingo. The tower suffered heavy damage from cannon fire and had to be rebuilt. The original cannonballs were removed and replaced with wooden blocks as a tribute to the event. These commemorative blocks are still on display.

Early 19th Century and Changes
In 1817, the English artist Emeric Essex Vidal visited Buenos Aires and painted the church, noting it was in poor condition but praising its colors and organ. He also mentioned the bullet marks on the tower, which the friars had pointed out to him. During the presidency of Bernardino Rivadavia in the 1820s, the Dominicans were expelled, and the convent was repurposed as a Natural History Museum starting in 1826. The museum showcased around 800 animal specimens, 1,500 minerals, countless plants, and a numismatic collection of over 1,500 coins. An astronomical observatory and meteorological office were established in the upper part of the church, led by Italian scientist Octavio Fabrizio Mossotti, who also gave physics lectures. Sadly, most of the meteorological records were lost due to lack of interest at the time, although some were used by Alexander von Humboldt and ended up at the Institut de France.

Return of the Dominicans and Later Developments
On October 22, 1835, Juan Manuel de Rosas issued a decree allowing the Dominicans to return and reclaim the convent. Rosas was even named a brother of the Dominican order in recognition of this. Despite their return, the Natural History Museum continued operating in part of the building until 1854. The west tower was completed in 1849. Later additions include the basement behind the presbytery (1873), the vestry, and the chapels of Saint Vincent and the Rosary (1885). In 1894, architects Auguste Plou and Oliver remodeled the church, giving it the pediment it has today.