Global Courant
Founded in 1882, La Plata has added an extensive menu of tourist proposals in recent years to its recognized educational, scientific and cultural profile.
Among other novelties, the Municipal Tourism Entity (EMATUR) promotes the “Walking tour” and the “Bicitando” guided bicycle tours, two free activities that require prior registration. Audio guides in English, Portuguese and Spanish were also incorporated to visit the main places of interest.
Here nine possible walks through the Buenos Aires capital are suggested, to which can be added the traditional walk along the Costanera de Punta Lara -which has just been renovated and landscaped, with the recovered open view of the Río de la Plata, in Ensenada- and the boat excursion from Berisso to the hundred-year-old fruit and vegetable farms on Paulino Island.
Tourism in La Plata.
1. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Since its inauguration in 1932 -48 years after the start of construction-, the largest neo-Gothic temple in South America forms the most emblematic postcard of La Plata.
The imposing work was only completed in 1999, when the two towers, 112 meters high, finished taking shape. One of them has a viewpoint over a good part of the city, which can be accessed by elevator.
Plaza Moreno. The photo is bought
2. Foundational Axis
The traces of the city designed by Pedro Benoit and founded by Governor Dardo Rocha in 1882 can begin to be traced in the Municipal Palace, separated from the Cathedral by the central Plaza Moreno.
This historical tour has another unavoidable stopover at the Teatro Argentino, a renowned opera and ballet venue opened in 1890 and recovered in 1999, after a fire that destroyed all the facilities (such as prose, concert and opera halls for 2,200 spectators and halls for exhibitions) in 1977.
Curutchet’s house The photo is bought
In turn, in front of Plaza San Martín, the Legislative Palace, seat of the Provincial Congress, has risen since 1889. Closer to the entrance to the Forest, you can visit Casa Curutchet, a legacy of the Swiss architect Le Corbusier and a World Heritage Site, declared by Unesco in 2006.
The railway station converted into Pasaje Dardo Rocha, a cultural center that houses fairs, exhibitions, film cycles and municipal offices, also remains standing from the founding days of La Plata.
El verde del Bosque. The photo is bought
3. The Forest
Paths between centuries-old poplars, oaks, ombúes, eucalyptus and willows cut through the 60 hectares of the largest green lung in the city.
There stands the Planetarium and the Museum of Natural Sciences (created in 1888), among whose exhibition rooms, organized into three thematic circuits, a sample of dinosaur replicas stands out.
Museum of Natural Sciences of La Plata. Photo EMATUR
4. Children’s Republic
The first educational theme park in Latin America is a miniature city that attracts young and old alike in Gonnet.
In the middle of a refreshing wooded park, public buildings were built on a child’s scale. The fun extends to a series of rides, a ship, a train and the Museo de los Muñecos, and visitors can also practice farming on an educational farm.
The Children’s Republic.
5. City Bell
Very close to República de los Niños, this town in the district of La Plata attracts with the serene atmosphere of its forested streets, the founding houses, monuments and a growing cultural and gastronomic offer, led by breweries, hamburgers and restaurants run by prestigious chefs.
City Bell also gained fame as a modern designer polo.
A walk through the Municipal Ecological Park. Photo EMATUR
6. Municipal Ecological Park
The Camino Centenario leads from the north of La Plata to the bucolic landscape of Villa Elisa.
There, the Municipal Ecological Park emerges as a valuable shelter for fauna and flora species (especially grasses) typical of the Pampas Region and an ideal place to organize a family picnic. It has an organic garden and an environmental interpretation room. Admission is free and guided tours are held on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30.
7. Brick Museum
Between the Centenario and General Belgrano roads -in the area of the hypermarkets in the north of La Plata-, a hundred-year-old chimney and the remains of a Hoffman brick kiln guide tourists to locate the Brick Museum, set up in the old Administration of the factory installed by the Czechoslovakian immigrant Francisco Ctibor, upon his arrival in the country more than a hundred years ago.
In five rooms, different types of bricks, tools, machinery, tools, photos, plans and period furniture are exhibited.
Victoria Ctibor, the great-granddaughter of the pioneer, is the most suitable guide to tell the story to learn about past and current brick production systems and the importance that the factory had in accompanying the construction of the city, which took its first steps in late 19th century.
8. Provincial Station
With its epicenter at the corner of 71 and 17, in the Meridiano V neighborhood, it revives the history of the railway that ran through the Buenos Aires dairy basin to the Mirapampa station, very close to the border with La Pampa.
Meridiano V the railway district of La Plata.
On weekends there are guided tours of the station (inaugurated in 1910 and disaffected by the closure of the branch in 1977) and the cobbled beach -in front of the platform- is transformed into an open-air stage where actors, clowns, magicians, jugglers and street artists offer shows and cultural proposals “to the cap”.
Around, in old recycled houses, there are bars. In 2022, a municipal ordinance named the place “Barrio Meridiano V Cultural Historic District.”
Museo Rau
9. Rau Automobile Museum
In a house built in 1875 -before the founding of La Plata- at 1 between 34 and 35, the Automobile Museum opens its doors to the public, so that they can admire the relics treasured for decades by the brothers Jorge and Cecilio Rau.
Among the surprising collection of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, toys, billboards, handle fuel pumps and road signs, a horse-drawn estate with four-wheel suspension and candle lanterns shines, a 1917 Ford T, a Ford A a 1931 Fiat Topolino, a “German Mouse” BMW Isetta, a 1939 Chevrolet TC, a 1910 Renault, a 1917 Peugeot and a 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood.
The ideal is to know in detail the history of each piece and its collectors through the Evelin Rau guide. There is also a cafeteria in the replica of a general store.
Miniguide
How to get. From the city of Buenos Aires it is 56 kilometers by highway to La Plata.
Roca Train from Constitución, $65 one way; with SUBE, $33.
Micro Misión Buenos Aires (line 129) or Metropol (line 195) from Retiro, Once or Constitución, $225 by highway or $170 by Camino Centenario.
How much does it cost. Train ride in the Children’s Republic, $350; access to the airport, $400; boat, $300; up to 4 years old and retired, free (0221-484-1409).
Entrance to the Museum of Natural Sciences, $800; online, $600; up to 12 years old, retirees and students, free (www.museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar).
Entrance to Casa Curutchet, $1,000; retirees and students, $500; up to 12 years, free.
Access to the elevator and Museum of the Cathedral, $750; retirees, $450; up to 10 years, free.
Entrance to the Rau Automobile Museum, $700; from 6 to 12 years old, $200 (0221-155025153 / coleccionrau@yahoo.com.ar / Facebook: Rau Automobile Museum).
Where to find out (0221) 489-5602 / turismo@laplata.gob.ar / www.turismo.laplata.gob.ar / Facebook: La Plata Tourism.
