Buenos Aires is a city that beautifully blends various architectural styles, including academicism, Art Deco, and brutalism. Despite lacking a medieval artistic heritage due to its history, one can find a unique medieval-inspired village just 30 kilometers from the bustling city center: Campanópolis.
This enchanting settlement, located in the La Matanza municipality, features remarkable constructions such as the Torre del Mirador, Plaza del Mástil, and Pasaje del Búho. Campanópolis celebrated its 35th anniversary in March and currently employs around 200 people.
As you stroll through its cobblestone streets, reminiscent of European towns, you’ll notice something special. The village is crafted from a variety of elements—gates, domes, beams, and other construction materials—reclaimed from Europe and creatively repurposed.
The history of this tourist destination dates back to Antonio Campana, a prominent canned goods entrepreneur. In 1976, he purchased 200 hectares of land as an investment. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with cancer, which inspired him to create this unique space. Oscar Campana, the current park administrator and Antonio’s son, shares that it was during this challenging period that Antonio decided to transform a trash dump on the property into a lush landscape, planting over 100,000 trees.
After reforesting the area, Antonio envisioned a European-style village, reminiscent of Calabria, to honor his immigrant parents from that southern Italian region. Oscar fondly recalls that despite his father’s lack of architectural training, his imagination pushed him to build this dream with his savings.
Antonio’s innovative approach to recycling architectural elements and materials from demolished buildings made him a visionary in ecology and environmental sustainability. He incorporated tiles as flooring, transformed doors into roofs, and utilized bricks and debris from other construction sites.
Over the years, this personal project evolved into a public park, partly due to the high maintenance costs and the growing interest from visitors wanting to experience this eco-friendly journey back in time.
Growing up amidst places like the Twelve Little Houses of the Forest and playing in spaces designed to mimic royal chambers made Oscar perceive it as a normal part of life. He became keenly aware of the magic of the location when he heard others express their admiration.
He humorously observes that having a father who is an ice cream maker can make the joy of chocolate ice cream fade for you personally, even though your friends still love it.
The village’s unique design has made it a backdrop for national presentations, including medieval series such as “Knightfall” (2017) and “Game of Thrones” (2011), as well as unusual events like the birthday celebration for Carlos Bianchi’s wife and the launch of the album “Drama y Luz” by the Mexican band Maná in 2011.
Oscar notes that since the pandemic, the site has experienced an influx of tourists, which he attributes to a “changed mindset” in people following such an extreme global situation. He believes that, post-COVID, individuals have started to feel more adventurous and encouraged.
The vision for this space, which was a dream for his father, is to continue growing while imparting a message. Oscar hopes to encourage people to take more time to enjoy the present moment, as “we are all living in a very rushed world,” he concludes, from a place deeply rooted in the past.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/07/24/campanopolis-una-aldea-medieval-y-sustentable-a-un-paso-de-buenos-aires/
