There may be many churches around the world, but the Basilica of our Lady of Mercy strikes you at first glance as being utterly different from other churches you may experience. For one thing, it is done in the classic Roman style of architecture with high marble pillars and a triangular façade. It looks so much like the ruins of old that you might be forgiven for thinking that you were in the wrong country. However, what makes this building uniquely Argentinian is the history that is imbued within the structure itself, just like many of the other religious buildings around the city. It was commissioned by Mr Manuel Gomez and his wife, who were wealthy but barren. Since God had given them wealth but withheld an heir, they decided to build a temple to His glory with their money. The faith of this couple resulted in the completion of the basilica by the second half of the 18th century. Since then, it has been a rallying point for the Argentine independence fighters in the Spanish invasions, and was even an icon of the revolution. Today, a visit there will cause you to marvel at the colourful history that this quiet façade conceals.