Unbeknown to most people, La Plata is the largest city in the province of Buenos Aires and is, in fact, its capital; Buenos Aires is Argentina's federal capital, while La Plata is the administrative, political and educational centre of the province. Rich in colonial and cultural architecture, La Plata is a world-renowned tourist destination, often referred to as the “City of Diagonals” because it is dominated by diagonal throughways, with a park or green space every six blocks.
In 1884, La Plata became the first city in Latin America to have electric street lighting. Today, it is home to around 700,000 people, the largest church in Argentina, and numerous historic buildings. These include the City Hall, inspired by the German Neo-Renaissance and the Legislative House, which was built in a Flemish Renaissance Neoclassic style.
Reasons to visit La Plata
La Plata Cathedral
Dating back to 1884, this Neo-Gothic cathedral is not only the largest place of worship in South America but is among the sixty tallest churches in the whole world.
Paseo del Bosque
This park was expropriated from a ranch when La Plata was founded. Here, you'll find a small lake with paddle boats for rent, a planetarium open-air theatre and the main attraction, Museo de La Plata.
Casa Curutchet
This famous monument was built by the pioneer of modern architecture, Le Corbusier, and is his only South American project. Commissioned by the surgeon Dr Pedro Domingo Curutchet in 1948, the four-story residence is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Teatro Argentino
The second most important lyric opera house in Argentina, Teatro Argentino, was built after Teatro de La Plata was destroyed by a fire in 1977. It reflects the city's history and geometric urban design, as well as the neoclassical style of other buildings.
Natural science museum
This impressive museum boasts a collection of more than 15,000 pieces of bone and prehistoric objects, an exhibition devoted to the Argentine Jesuits and roughly 3 million objects preserved from the pre-Columbian era.
Pereyra Iraola Park
Pereyra Iraola Park, aka the Children's Republic, is the largest urban park in the province. It promotes sustainable development in an area that seeks to preserve the characteristics of the coastal Pampa environment.
La República de los Niños
Just outside the city, you'll find La República de los Niños, Latin America's first theme park, which resembles a city (proportionally sized) for children. There are replicas of Argentina's government buildings, restaurants, an airport, theatre, and even a prison.
Live Indie Rock
La Plata is known as the Indie Rock capital of Argentina and local bands often play for free here in pubs such as Bar Imperio, El Rincón de los Amigos, and Ciudad Vieja.
Craft beer
Argentina's oldest brewery, La Posta del Angel, is located in La Plata. You'll also find hip bars, such as Chicha, which has fifteen rotating beers on tap, and Molly's Beer House, a beautifully restored old house with a courtyard where you can enjoy a cold pint.
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