25 photos of the luxurious Alvear Palace, the residence of the Italian ambassador that its original owner never inhabited

The residence of the Italian ambassador is located in the Palermo neighborhood, more precisely at the intersection of Billinghurst Street and Libertador Avenue. The French-style building was built in the early 1920s (Nicolas Stulberg)The palace was initially built as a private residence for one of the richest families in Buenos Aires at that time: the Bosch Alvears. On the front of the building, the relief head of the first owner, Count Federico de Alvear (Nicolás Stulberg) stands out.The owners were not in Argentina during the construction of the palace. Upon his return, Bosch Alvear visited the finished work and entered through the main entrance, which was located at 45 degrees above the axis of the house, as per the old tradition of the Beaux Arts style. The disposition was not to the liking of the Count, who decided to sell the property (Nicolas Stulberg)The residence was put up for sale without its original owners living in it. The Italian government acquired it in 1924 (Nicolas Stulberg)The three large glazed wrought iron doors lead to a small vestibule, where a 230cm x 130cm mirror stands out (Nicolás Stulberg)

The ground floor consists of three large reception rooms, the ambassador’s office and a dining room in which a lavish wrought iron fireplace stands out (Nicolás Stulberg)Upon entering, a majestic white marble staircase prevails in sight that, in two directions, leads to the upper floor, where the rooms are located (Nicolás Stulberg)The decoration and furniture were all imported from Italy in 1924 and fit perfectly with the French style of the palace. The only exception is the red armchair in the entrance hall that was donated after a recent exhibition of Italian design at the National Museum of Decorative Art (Nicolas Stulberg)With its coherence in architecture and decoration, the residence represents a period of wealth and splendor in Buenos Aires in the 1920s (Nicolás Stulberg)A piano in the music corner. The decoration of the halls was updated with regard to their curtains, carpets and the relocation of furniture and spaces (Nicolás Stulberg)The music corner is one of the most beautiful in the residence and is located to the left of the entrance hall and the grand staircase (Nicolás Stulberg)The furniture that arrived in Buenos Aires by boat from Italy in 1924 belonged to the royal family of the Savoy (Nicolás Stulberg)Last year, during the Night of the Embassies, a crowd visited the residence of the Italian ambassador. It is estimated that some 800 people participated in the tour (Nicolás Stulberg)In the small reception room of the ambassador, a large 17th century oil painting with the figure of Samson (Nicolas Stulberg) prevails.A golden sculpture by José de San Martín in the ambassador’s office. The Argentine hero almost died in a hotel in Rome in February 1846, after suffering seizures and an epileptic attack that left him with greatly diminished vital signs (Nicolás Stulberg)A secretariat of fine Genoese marquetry. All the works of the residence belong to the art gallery of the Embassy (Nicolás Stulberg)The art gallery is made up of works that belonged to the collection of Palazzo Pitti, in Florence. It is, along with that of the Brazilian Embassy, ​​one of the most important collections of paintings among foreign representations in Buenos Aires (Nicolás Stulberg)In the photo on the left, the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, shakes hands with the Ambassador of Italy, Fabrizio Lucentini, in the act of receiving credentials at the Casa Rosada, on January 25, 2021. To the left of Fernández, Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero (Nicolás Stulberg)The sobriety of the dining room contrasts with the ostentation of the rest of the rooms in the house. However, the details of the ceiling draw attention to the eye (Nicholas Stulberg)Over the years, the residence required restoration works that allowed it to continue to look as magnificent as it did from the beginning (Nicolas Stulberg)The three wrought iron gates in the front seen from inside the residence. Behind, the beautiful garden that connects to the Embassy (Nicolás Stulberg)The palace is, without a doubt, a representative of an architectural tradition that governed for many years within the wealthiest families of Buenos Aires (Nicolás Stulberg)Two sphinxes guard the access to the building on the sides. They sport feline claws and are believed to have been specially brought from Italy (Nicolas Stulberg)A plaque in memory of the Italian citizens who were victims of the last Argentine military dictatorship (Nicolás Stulberg)Felisa Ortiz Basualdo, wife of Federico de Alvear

Special thanks to Alessandra Passerini, Nicoletta De Guglielmi and Lorenzo Vermigli from the Italian Embassy in Buenos Aires.

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