Mar del Plata Tourist Attractions
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Some of the best beaches in South America are found in the relatively modern city of Mar del Plata, situated on the northern Atlantic coast, 400km/228mi from Buenos Aires. Here beaches sprawl for 8km/5mi and the ones nearest to Mar de Plata's cruise-port are the Chica and Grande Beaches where sea-lions like to supervise the fishing activities around the wharves.Once a playground for the rich, mansions from the area's heyday mingle with newer, more modest resorts. Many early 19th C buildings, modern high-rises, numerous parks, squares and gardens are found along "Mardel's" waterfront. Mar del Plata has a population of approximately 500,000.Mar del Plata offers museums, restaurants and a colorful nightlife, plus the natural beauty of the outlying area's wind-swept dunes and dramatic cliffs.
J M Fangio Automobile Museum
Preserved behind the 1906 facade of the J M Fangio Automobile Museum in Mar del Plata are more than 100 cars and 500 trophies belonging to the collection of racer Juan Manuel Fangio. Among the well organized displays in this 5,000sq m/54,000sq ft shrine to motoring is the first automobile in the world, a Daimler 1886.
Mar del Plata Aquarium
Mar del Plata Aquarium offers many marine attractions with the dolphin and seal shows as the most popular. Other highlights include penguins, tortoises, flamingos and 3D films at the on-site cinema.
Fishing Wharf
Mar del Plata is one of the country's most important fishing ports and seafood processing centers. Picturesque Banquina de Pescadores is busy with brightly colored boats as fishermen follow their daily routine. Fishers return with their catch at around 5 p.m. The sea-lions monitoring the activities make a great photo-op.
Municipal Museum of Art Juan Carlos Castagnino
The Museo Municipal de Arte Juan Carlos Castagnino is housed in the former summer residence of a prominent family from Mar del Plata. The building itself is very ornate in a Tudor style and worth a look around. On display inside is a range of artworks in a variety of mediums by Argentine artists.
Villa Victoria Ocampo Cultural Center
Victoria Ocampo once hosted salons in this house, whose guests included Jorge Luis Borges and Igor Stravinsky.The iron and wood for the mansion, now the Villa Victoria Ocampo Cultural Center, was brought from England to Argentina by boat in 1912. It is now a museum and cultural center.
Mar del Plata International Film Festival
Mar del Plata is the site of Argentina's most important film festival, the Argentine version of Cannes. The festival used to be held in March but the format has changed and is now held in November.
Municipal Museum of Natural Sciences Lorenzo Scalia
Paleontological, archaeological, geological and zoological exhibits are displayed in the Municipal Museum of Natural Sciences Lorenzo Scalia whose ground floor aquarium features fresh and salt-water species.
Chiquita Beach
Chiquita Beach at Mar del Plata is a good place for swimming, water sports and fishing and is sheltered by a chain of sand dunes.
Cleto Ciocchini Museum of the Men of the Port
Museo de Hombre de Puerto Cleto Ciocchini in Mar del Plata is named for a local painter whose art pays tribute to the local harbor workers.
Cultural Exhibition of Art and Shells
The Exposicion Cultural Arte y Nacar / Cultural Exhibition of Art and Shells is a shell museum with an assortment of 52,000 shells from 6000 species.
Laguna Sierra de los Padres
Laguna Sierra de los Padres is Mar del Plata's premier ecological reserve. It encompasses over 200ha/494ac of marshland and is ideal for bird watching.
Municipal Archives
The Museo Archivo Historico Municipal is housed in the 1930s Villa Emilio Mitre. On display are old photos and documents recounting the history of Mar del Plata.
Grotto of Lourdes
Luxuriant foliage covers Grotto of Lourdes, a replica of the famous French grotto.
