La Rosadita: How is Menem’s controversial home in La Rioja

Former President Carlos Menem has died at the age of 90 and has lived much of his life in “Rosadita”, the house located in the city of Rioja in Anillaco and that he nicknamed it with that name in reference to the Casa Rosada. During his presidency in the 1990s, the residence hosted renowned personalities from politics, journalists and entertainment stars.

The property was built in 1985, it took 12 years to complete and is currently one of the most visited places by tourists who come to La Rioja. It has a traditional style reminiscent of historic houses located in the countryside and is surrounded by a gallery that allows it to face the high temperatures that characterize the city of Cuyo.

The house is located in a corner of the land of over one hectare. It has 1000 m² built, half of which was used for galleries. It has spacious rooms and a very familiar style, especially in the kitchen and living room.

The architects who were in charge of the construction were Hernán Maciel and Alberto Rosi, who took into account the countless visits that Dr Carlos Menem received at that time, so they decided to add an exclusive guest house and a meeting room.

In the left sector of the building, there are two of the four bedrooms of the house, which were exclusively for those who visited the former president; while next to it is the room which has all the electrical controls for the security of the house.

Behind the house is the relaxation and sports area with a swimming pool, a sauna, a rest room and a tennis court. It also has a barbecue area with a rattan roof, two tables, a grill and a small clay oven.

Many personalities have passed through this house. And the former president fell in love with one of his guests: There he met Cecilia Bolocco, at the end of his second term, when the Chilean journalist interviewed him on the Riojan estate. for his TV show and stayed there for three days. When the couple got married in 2001, the dream was to do so in La Rosadita, but since the owner is his daughter, Zulemita Menem, it was not possible.

Announced in 1995 and completed in 1997, the airstrip that is remembered was presented on March 7 of the same year, when Riojan Governor Ángel Maza clarified that the cost was $ 1,260,000.

Although La Rioja airport is 100 kilometers from Anillaco, Carlos Menem always liked to return directly to the place where he grew up and lived his childhood. The track is 800 meters from the house. At 2,400 meters long and 40 wide, it is similar in length to Jorge Newbery Airport, and around this time it allowed the former president to land with the presidential B757, the famous Tango-01.

Following the construction of the airstrip, Carlos Menem suffered the request for indictment against him, after the formal request of the radical senator Alberto Maglietti for poor performance and possible crime in the exercise of his functions.

Years have passed and planes loaded with produce from La Rioja have never left the runway, there have only been sporadic trips by national and international officials and politicians during the Menem administration in the 90s. Thus, the years passed and the place was little frequented, a few visits, educational flights of the students of the Aéroclub of the province, the landing of a plane in emergency situation. The last notable landing was that of Alberto Fernández, last October, when he traveled to the province, landed on the controversial runway and visited La Rosadita.

On November 7, Carlos Menem announced through his social networks that what was his home in La Rioja for many years would be the head of the Municipality of Castro Barros. Currently, The property is in the name of Zulemita and it was she who decided to cede it to the Municipality for its tourist exploitation until 2023.

La Rosadita has been uninhabited and closed for two years. Since December it has been part of the tourist circuit of the region, but you cannot go inside, just visit the vast park and know the outdoor facilities. It has been confirmed that interior repairs will be carried out in order to receive visitors over the next year. At this time, a nominal fee is charged to allow maintenance to continue until it is fully open to the public.

One of the last times Carlos Menem and his family were seen in La Rosadita was at the end of February 2017, after being elected national senator from his home province, La Rioja. At that time, the former president had an active political and social life, awaiting what would be a new challenge in his career in the National Congress.

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