La Plata, Argentina

Distance from Capital Federal: 60 kilometers

La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires, is located to the southwest of Buenos Aires. It is a city with history, tradition and a strong European accent placed not only on its architectonic design but also on the geography of the city. It contains magnificent buildings and innumerable open spaces.
It is known as “the city of diagonals” because of the avenue constructions: there is an avenue every six streets and a park or a square in each intersection, all of them, interconnected by diagonals. It is a green city plenty of trees like limes, jacarandas, oranges and chinaberries. The weather is warm and very humid, it has permanent temperatures of 17ºC.

How is it possible to arrive?

If the visitor prefer, he or she would arrive by road, through the National Route 36 or the Provincial Route 11; or by train, from the Constitución Train Station.

Events

New Year

During the New Year festivity, the Momos burning (traditional toys from Spain) takes place, this is a picturesque celebration.

La Plata Anniversary (November)

The anniversary of the city of La Plata takes place on November. Many cultural activities are developed as the traditional beneficent dinner organized by the Florencio Pérez Foundation, music festivals and the religious thanks giving mass.

Tourist attractions

Pereira Park

The Pereira Park is the perfect place for recreation and environmental education. It is 600 hectares long, it is located in the south zone and it is the major natural reserve of Palmar. It has open spaces for visitor and restricted areas that preserve typical flora and fauna.
Inside the park, people can practice outdoor activities like cycling, ridding, bird watching or camping.

La República de los Niños (Theme Park for Children)

Another visited place is the Theme Park “La República de los Niños” which is located in Gonnet. The city includes important institutions like the Parliament, Government House, Law Courts, Church, the airport, restaurants, hotels, etc.
It was inaugurated in 1951. It covers 52 hectares that include geographical features and natural landscapes. It is composed by 35 buildings which show medieval, European, and Islamic architectural designs; they represent manufacturing, sportive, commercial, educative and religious institutions.
El Museo del Muñeco (international museum) is a very peculiar part of the park. It has a collection of 2500 remains donated by ambassadors and diplomats. The most important ones are the ones which belong to the Chancay culture of Peru who dates back 600 years ago.

Astronomic Observatory

The observatory forms part of the Department of Astronomical and Geophysics Sciences of The University of La Plata. It is an important researching center.
It is situated between gardens and forest, it forms part of an architectural complex of vast sizes which includes the main building for management, administration, library and other premises.
There are several domes for observation, the major one was equipped with an 83-centimetres-telescope and a magnetic tunnel.

The Cathedral

The cathedral is situated in front of the Moreno square; it is the biggest neo gothic temple of South America. It contains seven French and German designed windows. It is possible to look around the crypt, plenty of legends. A modern transparent elevator permits the panoramic observation of the city. The site also possesses a subterranean museum with a snack bar.

Useful information

CENTRO DE INFORMES (Information Centre)
50 Street, between 6 and 7, Dardo Rocha Passage.
Attention: Everyday, from 10:00 to 20:00
Telephone: (0221) 427-1535.