San Carlos Convent

About

In the 1700s when the Jesuits were forced out of South America, Franciscan friars moved their chapel to the small town of San Lorenzo, and established the San Carlos Convent near the river. They added a well, a house for the appointed monk, and quarters for the workers of the property. After the friars’ hard work, the convent was inhabited by 1796. As the Spanish were trying to maintain their occupancy in Argentina, battles began to break out in protest. In 1811, Jose de San Martin hid troops inside the convent, taking a Spanish ambush by surprise. During the battle this convent also served as a place to help the wounded soldiers. This battle began the many to come in order to establish Argentina’s independence, subsequently making this convent and important piece of Argentina’s history.