Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

144  ARGENTINA REGION B Y REGION

1 La Plata (14,000 sq m), including the
gardens. The star attraction is
Founded in 1882, the well-organized city of La Plata is the the Salón Dorado (Gold Room)
seat of government for Buenos Aires province. Built in under on the first floor, reached via a
two decades, it is the country’s first entirely planned city, mar ble staircase. The floor is
earning it the nickname Ciudad Milagro (Miracle City). made from Slavonic oak and the
outstanding bronze chandeliers
La Plata boasts several spectacular buildings, world-class have 78 lamps apiece.
museums, and two top-league soccer teams. The city center, Temporary art exhi bitions as
planned in detail by French architect Pierre Benoit, consists of well as various civic functions
23 plazas connected by broad Parisian-style boulevards lined are held here.
with trees and impressive public buildings. The city has a rich
and vibrant cultural life, mainly due to the three major P Teatro Argentino
Ave 51, between Calles 9 & 10.
uni versities that attract students from all over Argentina. Tel (0221) 429-1745. Open 10am−
8pm Tue−Sun. 8 7 ^ - =
∑ teatroargentino.gba.gov.ar
Built in 1890, Teatro Argentino is
considered the second-greatest
opera venue in the country after
Teatro Colón (see pp78–9). It
became a reputed stage for
singers from both home and
abroad during the “golden age”
of theater in the 1930s and 40s.
The cur tain fell in 1977 after the
building was razed by a fire. It
finally reopened in 2000 with an
excellent pro duction of Puccini’s
Tosca. There are now two
The sparkling white Neo-Classical Palacio de la Legislatura auditoria: one is dedicated to
the classical composer Alberto
P Plaza Mariano Moreno church was inaugurated in Ginastera, with a capacity of
Bounded by Calles 12, 14, 54, 1932 to mark La Plata’s 50th 2,200; and the other, with space
& 50. Catedral de la Inmaculada anniversary. It is the largest for 300 spectators, is named after
Concepción: Tel (0221) 427-3504. structure built in this style in the tango maestro Ástor Piazzolla,
Open 9am–7pm Mon–Sat, 9am–8pm Americas, with a surface area of and devoted to chamber music,
Sun & hols. 8 7 Palacio Municipal: 75,350 sq ft (7,000 sq m) and a theater, and recitals. There is
Tel (0221) 429-1000 (ext. 291). capacity of 14,000. also an exhibi tion hall with
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri. 8-
Facing the cathedral at the well curated shows related
Covering four blocks and northern end of the square is to various art forms.
located towards the southern Palacio Municipal. Built in the
side of the city, Plaza Mariano 1880s in German Renaissance P Palacio de la Legislatura
Moreno is a popular public style, the ivory-white complex Plaza San Martín. Tel (0221) 422-0112.
space. It was here that La Plata’s covers over 150,700 sq ft Open 10am−6pm daily. & 7 -
foundation stones were laid in Built in the 1880s, the
1882, along with a time capsule Neo-Classical Palacio de la
containing docu ments that Legislatura has three principal
record the event. points of entry, comprising
The square is lined with porticoes held up by four Ionic
remarkable buildings, and columns and crowned with
foremost among these is the sculptural groups. Both the
Catedral de la Inmaculada sculptural elements and
Concepción. Located on the the reliefs on the façade are
southern edge of the plaza, it allegorical representations of
was inspired by the great Gothic various events from Argentina’s
cathedrals of Amiens and history, including the abolition
Cologne. The cathedral, with its of slavery, the May Revolution,
unmistakable reddish brick and the Declaration of
façade and soaring 370-ft- Independence. The ceiling of
(112-m-) high twin towers, is the grand Representative’s
deservedly La Plata’s most Chamber depicts a blazing sun,
famous landmark. The corner- The red-brick façade of Catedral de la echoing the design of the
stone was laid in 1884, and the Inmaculada Concepción national flag.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p280 and pp291–2

144-145_EW_Argentina.indd 144 05/08/16 10:40 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm