MICHELANGELO LEGENDS

The history of the property where Michelangelo is located is as old as the city founded by Juan de Garay in 1580. It comprised two lots that ended at the banks of the Río de la Plata. ( It comprised two lots that ended at the banks of the Río de la Plata ) The land ended up in the hands of the Dominican friars around 1608.( El terreno pasó a manos de los frailes dominicos hacia 1608)

The Church of Santo Domingo, whose entrance is on Belgrano Avenue, was part of that property.

Built during the colonial times, it was the scenario of a military conflict during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata.

It holds as well the tomb of the Argentine national hero Manuel Belgrano.

Later on, the so-called( asi llamado) "Casa del Real asiento de los Ingleses" (House of the Royal Seat of the English), a place where the English slave traders operated.

Later, in 1784, the old customs house or "Santo Domingo", so named because of its proximity to the church, was located there. There, during the English invasions of 1806, the wounded(Heridos) soldiers were cured by the friars( frailes)  in the apothecary( botica) of the property, and the deceased( fallecidos) were buried in the small cemetery that was located next to the orchard of the congregation, where today is located the passage 5 de Julio.

Closer in time, the English architect Edward Taylor built the new customs house -which took his surname- on the ravine, behind the fort.

He began to erect it in 1857, and it was inaugurated in 1885,

today it is Michelangelo, that property belonged to the Huergo family. Then, they built the building almost as it can be seen today: it was used as a warehouse and, later, as a distillery.

Among the 609 objects that were found during the excavations carried out by archaeologist Daniel Schavelzon and his team, organic remains, spark stones for shooting firearms, keys, crockery, wine and perfume bottles, syringes and medicinal flasks were found, which have probably remained there ever since. Many of these objects are now in the building's restaurant, making it a remarkable archaeological site.

It has been recognized by the Buenos Aires legislature on its reopening as a historical event.

The building changed several times in the 20th century, until 1967, when Michelangelo's history as an emblem of portenity began with his logo of the three rings, which remained unchanged.