Argentinean History

First of all, a little bit of argentinian history:

In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered America and changed the history of this part of the world.  In February 1516, the Spanish seaman Juan Diaz de Solis entered the estuary of the River Plate, becoming the first European to arrive in the region that 400 years later, became Argentina.  Solis was looking for a passage towards the East Indies when he died on the banks of the River Plate in an ambush by local natives.  In 1526, Italian navigator Sebastian Gabot arrived in the area and sailed up the Parana River search of food.  Then he built a fortress close present city of Rosario and received silver pieces from the natives, marking the beginning of a legend that centuries later would give its name to the country.  The territory´s colonization was started in 1536 when Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires, that was followed by the foundations of Santiago del Estero in 1553, Cordoba and Santa Fe in 1573.  In 1580 Juan de Garay re-founded Buenos Aires for the second time since the first settlement had been destroyed.  In the mid 18th century, the population of Buenos Aires was 20000 inhabitants.  In 1776, the territory occupied by present-day Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay was separated from Peru and this was how teh Viceroyalty of the River Plate was created.

Buenos Aires

In 1806 and 1807, a british fleet attacked Buenos Aires and was expelled by a nascent popular militia.  For the inhabitants of the colony, this incident was crucial in relation to the possibilities of becoming independent.  On May 25, 1810, a public assembly was held at the colonial town council Cabildo that ousted Viceroy Cisneros and named a provisional Junta headed by Cornelio Saavedra.  An army was formed an the heroic war of independence began led by General Jose de San Martin, considered to be the "Father of the Nation".  Finally the representatives of the different provinces met in Tucuman and on the 9th July, 1816, proclaimed independence from Spain under the Constitution of the United Provinces of South America (later on the United Provinces of the River Plate).  Suddenly internal struggles began and in 1824 Bernardino Rivadavia was appointed President of teh Argentine nation, a name that started being used at that moment.  The National Constitution was approved in 1853, establishing the foundations for present-day Argentina.

José de San Martín

Accommodation reccomended in Buenos Aires City: Charlie´s Apartments , Charlie´s Hostel