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Villa Victoria Ocampo Cultural Center

The structure of the old house is made of wood and iron and was taken from England in 1912. The writer turned it into a meeting place for literary people of her time and, it was there that many rich meetings took place among the letters lovers for decades.

Thus, homage is payed to Victoria Ocampo who was born in Buenos Aires on April 7th. 1890. Her parents were Ramona Aguirre and Manuel Ocampo who settled in France when she was a child. She was educated at Sorbona and her cultural activity gave her an important place in the letters of the country as she returned. Through endless trips, she met people of the European and American culture and, in 1931 she founded the magazine "Sur" managing it for forty years.

Villa Victoria Ocampo Cultural Center is at 1851 Matheu Street, in Mar del Plata City. It is a building that was constructed by Mr. Manuel Ocampo as a present to Victoria's grandmother- Mrs. Francisca Ocampo de Ocampo.

In 1973, Victoria Ocampo donated the house to UNESCO which, in turn, knocked it down and the City Hall acquired it. It is used as a Cultural Center ever since.

Its picturesqueness style outstands in Divino Rostro neighborhood and it is surrounded by a peaceful and well kept park with plants of exquisite beauty.

Inside , it is totally made of wood and the house has eleven bedrooms, living room, dinning rooms and halls, keeping its typical English style. Different temporary shows and cultural events, such as musical shows, conferences and lectures are offered here.

In her life, Victoria Ocampo wrote many books among which we can mention: "Testimonios", a work of ten volumes containing thoughts about the political, social and cultural reality of Argentina as well as different studies about important figures of the moment, for instance Emily Brontë and Virginia Woolf.

She also worked on translations of works by A. Camus, W. Faulkner and Colette among others.

Her first book was " From Francesca to Beatrice", a study on the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

She gained a place in Argentina Culture of the XX th. Century due to her work contributing to the diffusion of ideas and art.

Her literary work, her personal work, the publishing house and Sur magazine made her receive the Honor Award of SADE ( Argentinean Society of Writers) in 1950 and many others such as the Golden Medal of the French Academy, Literature Doctorate given by the University of Virsrsbharati (India) in 1969 ( being the highest honorary distinction of this house of studies), Alberti- Sarmiento award given by La Prensa newspaper, María Moors Award given by Columbia University, the Honoris Causa of Harvard University and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire awarded by Queen Elizabeth of England.

In 1976, she was designated member of the Argentinean Academy of Letters, being the first woman to be in this place. Juan Bautista Alberdi's armchair and the assumption took place on June 23rd., 1977.

The village was declared of Patrimonial Interest under Nº 10075/95 bylaw of General Pueyrredón Town Council.

See also: Hotels in Mar del Plata and other accommodation venues