Illuminated Block

The Illuminated Block is a museum complex in the Monserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, that incorporates several colonial buildings. The structures include the San Ignacio Church and the former Jesuit college, which together form a connected ensemble.

The Jesuits founded their mission on this site in 1608 and built the baroque San Ignacio Church between 1686 and 1722. The college grew into a major educational institution before the order was expelled from the viceroyalty in 1767.

The former Jesuit college housed the city's first printing press in 1780 and a public library that opened in 1812. These institutions made the site an early center of learning and written culture in Buenos Aires.

The museum opens Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM and on weekends from 2 PM to 8 PM. Tours of the underground tunnels run at set times and should be reserved in advance.

Five underground tunnels run beneath the complex and served to protect ammunition during the War of Independence. These passages connected the Jesuit college to other strategic points in the city and are now open to visitors.

Location: Buenos Aires

Inception: January 1, 1971

Operator: Dirección Nacional de Museos

Address: Perú

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-20:00; Saturday-Sunday 14:00-20:00

Phone: +541143429930

Website: https://manzanadelasluces.cultura.gob.ar

GPS coordinates: -34.61056,-58.37444

Latest update: December 20, 2025 01:28