La Argentina, o La conquista del Rio de La Plata. Poema histórico

This sweeping historical poem transports listeners to the early days of the Spanish conquest of the Río de la Plata. Written by a traveling chaplain who witnessed the events firsthand, it fuses the grandeur of epic verse with the meticulous eye of a chronicler. The work opens with the daring 1572 expedition from San Lúcar, setting the stage for a tale of exploration, ambition, and survival.

Centenera’s verses paint the sea’s fury, describing a sudden tempest that tosses the fleet and the desperate hunger that grips the crew on the barren island of Santa Catalina. He chronicles the fragile birth of Buenos Aires, the clashes with indigenous peoples, and the daily hardships of frontier life—all rendered in a lyrical, eleven‑syllable meter that recalls the Italian epics of his time. Listeners can hear the clash of swords, the creak of wooden ships, and the whispered prayers of men seeking a new world.