It was decided in 1880 to create a capital for the Province of Buenos Aires after the City was declared capital of the country. Then Governor, Dardo Rocha was in charge of carrying this out. Various studies were undertaken so as to decide where it should be built.
Places like the Belgrano neighbourhood, the cities of Chascomus, Dolores to the south and San Nicolas to the North were originally considered as possible sites. In April of that year the Ensenada Municipality was chosen as the ideal place and the Provincial Government gave it the name of La Plata apparently influenced by Poet Jose Hernandez, author of the renowned Gaucho classic “Martin Fierro”.
A team of urban planners led by engineer Pedro Benoit was in charge of designing the city and an international bid was opened for the design of the most important buildings. The city is well-known for its diagonals, its big park (“El Bosque”) and numerous squares placed every six blocks.
The fundamental stone was placed 19 November 1882 during the first presidency of Julio A. Roca at the exact geographical centre, today’s Plaza Moreno, surrounded by the beautiful municipal palace and the imposing gothic cathedral made of red bricks, landmarks of the city.