Although much of Montevideo’s architecture is a vivid reminder of the major European impact on the country’s culture and legacy, the city’s skyline is dominated by a diverse collection of Colonial, Neoclassical, and Postmodern-style structures.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Montevideo
Park Battle, Park Prado, and Park Rodo are just a few of Montevideo’s many parks; each one features a unique set of amenities, from man-made lakes and outdoor exhibits to sports fields and performance venues.
The city’s many museums and galleries provide another excellent resource for gaining insight into its dynamic history and contemporary culture. Read on for some of the best tourist attractions in Montevideo, the city of Uruguay.
1. Plaza Independencia
There is a tomb and monument to José Gervasio Artigas, a military leader who fought hard for Uruguay and Argentina during the Independence War in the early 1800s, on Montevideo’s main square, which was originally designed in 1937.
There is an urn containing Artigas’ bones inside the mausoleum, along with various plaques honouring his life and military service that can be accessible through a staircase leading beneath.
The plaza is bordered by some of Montevideo’s most notable structures, including the Puerta de la Ciudadela (City Gate), which dates back to the 18th century and is all that remains of the city’s original fortress walls.
Across the street from the square is the Estevez Palace, which today houses a museum, as well as the Palacio Salvo. The plaza’s 33 palm palms represent the 33 men that fought alongside future Uruguayan president Juan Antonio Lavalleja y de la Torre during the country’s War of Independence.
2. Mercado del Puerto
The Mercado del Puerto in the city’s historic port district is the ideal place to sample authentic Uruguayan fare, particularly the country’s famed asado barbecue. Matambre (stuffed beef roll) and grilled morcilla can be sampled at one of the many eateries lining this expansive marketplace.
Everything is prepared over open flames, in full front of the diners, utilising time-honored techniques and authentic seasonings. Dishes in Uruguay are a delicious fusion of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese influences.
Since the indigenous people of Uruguay were not permitted to fully mix with the majority European population, very few of their traditional foods made it into the cuisine of the country.
During the weekends, local artists, musicians, and makers gather outside the building to sell their crafts and liven up the neighbourhood.
3. Salvo Palace
The Salvo Palace was constructed in the 1920s without any predetermined function; however, early plans called for its adaptation into a hotel. Instead, the building became a commercial and residential hub under the ownership of the Salvo brothers.
The palace was the highest structure in South America for a while. The Salvo Palace is still privately owned, with the exception of the Tango Museum’s level just across from Plaza Independencia.
While both Argentina and Uruguay contributed to the development of tango around the same time, one of the most famous tangos in history, La Cumparsita, was written in a structure on the grounds of Salvo Palace in 1917. The palace’s tiny tango museum is a terrific spot to learn about the dance’s rich history and culture and catch impromptu live performances.
4. Pocitos
Pocitos, a resort district in Montevideo, is a famous tourist destination every summer because of its beach. The Rambla, a broad street with the longest continuous pavement in the world, runs parallel to Pocitos beach on the other side.
Biking, running, and socialising with friends over a mate (a traditional herbal drink served in a hollow calabash gourd) are all popular year-round activities, as is relaxing on the expansive beach in the warmer months.
Playa Pocitos is known for its magnificent waterfront hotels, villas, and vacation rentals, as well as the many nautical activities held there year-round. The Plaza Tomás Gomensoro, with its covered pergola and plentiful benches to rest on on hot days, and the Church of Saint John the Baptist, both from the 19th century, are both located in Pocitos.
5. Museo del Gaucho and Currency
This one-of-a-kind museum, located in the former neo-Renaissance Heber Jackson castle, celebrates the gaucho (a South American cowboy), his culture, and his traditions, including his special bond with his horse.
Clothing, horse equipment, and silver and gold spurs take up the bulk of the displays, but there are also many statues and handmade silver and leather products (both traditional crafts) to peruse.
On a different level of the palace is a modest collection of items having to do with bookkeeping and money. There are samples of bills and coins from different decades, in addition to counting devices, safes, and handwritten ledgers.
6. Prado Regional Park
Tree-lined alleys and grand homes from the turn of the century surround Prado Park in the neighbourhood of the same name. Prado, with 106 ha, is Montevideo’s largest urban park, with plenty of room for barbeques, strolls, and resting in the shade. In this park, you can take a dip in the Miguelete Stream.
Located inside the park’s boundaries, the Botanical Gardens feature two kilometres of trails for running and strolling, a stunning rose garden filled with blooms imported from France, and several options for photography under garden arches, inside greenhouses, and alongside the creek.
There are further opportunities to see Prado Park’s stunning landscaping and well-maintained pathways at the Blanes Museum. As there is no cost associated with visiting any of these places of interest, you are welcome to spend as much or as little time there as you like.
7. Mobile Carnival Museum
Uruguay’s Carnival celebrations, which begin in the middle of January and extend for 40 days, are the longest in the world. Although parades take place in many cities across the country, the largest celebrations are held in Montevideo and feature candombe drumming and dancing with an African influence, musical parody in the form of Murga, and a number of other cultural events held both on the street and in smaller plazas and outdoor venues.
There is a museum in Montevideo that traces the history of the Carnival, from its origins among African slaves a century ago to the present day, complete with displays of masks, costumes and other accoutrements.
At a special exhibit, visitors may learn about the history of candombe, from its roots in the rituals and dances of slaves carried to Uruguay to the wide variety of drums used in contemporary performances. There are also photographs and archival records from the 1930s, a time when carnivals were as popular as Broadway shows.
8. Stop by the Pittamiglio Castle
This contemporary structure that evokes a castle appears vary differently depending on your vantage point. Pittamiglio Castle is a reddish-brown castle tower with a massive reproduction of the Winged Victory of Samothrace sculpture affixed to the bow of a half ship, which is visible from the street where the main entrance is located.
Contemporary apartment complexes flank the main entrance. When you finally make it inside, you’ll find that the castle has twenty-three towers and fifty-four rooms, as well as a number of peculiar architectural features, such as short corridors, doors that lead nowhere, and chambers with odd layouts.
The architect Humberto Pittamiglio bequeathed his home to a friend in his will with the stipulation that it be restored to him “when he came back.” The building is currently home to a museum, a café, and an exhibition space.
The building itself is intriguing, but the mythology surrounding it are even more so, with tales ranging from the architect’s alleged involvement in witchcraft and satanic rites to allegations that alchemy was practised there and that the Holy Grail was hidden there.
The best way to see all the rooms and hear more about the building’s unique history is to take a guided tour.
9. Museo Juan Manuel Blanes
Museo Blanes is housed in a historic palace that is itself a Uruguayan National Historic Site, and it is entirely devoted to the works of Uruguay’s most well-known painter, Juan Manuel Blanes.
Realist painter Blanes was born in 1830. In his early twenties, Blanes had his own atelier and was working as an artist for a local newspaper. As his career progressed, he was commissioned to paint portraits of prominent Uruguayan and Argentine figures from the political and military elite.
Blanes’ designs were used to produce a statue of Artigas, the father of Uruguayan independence, which now stands in Washington, DC, in front of the National Museum of Visual Arts.
The grounds of the home include both formal gardens and a network of hiking trails. A Japanese garden complete with ponds, bridges, and plenty of secluded spots can be found directly behind the museum.
10. Fortress General Artigas
Overlooking Montevideo Bay, the fortified hill of Fortaleza del Cerro rises 134 metres above sea level. Although it was built in 1809 to fend against maritime assaults on the city, the white Spanish fort never saw action and was eventually turned into a museum.
The Military Museum, which includes a jail and a small collection of uniforms, weaponry, pictures, and documents, draws visitors nowadays. The lighthouse itself dates back to the 19th century. There is a military boat with beautiful views of Río de la Plata outside on the grounds.
The Military Museum, which includes a jail and a small collection of uniforms, weaponry, pictures, and documents, draws visitors nowadays. The lighthouse itself dates back to the 19th century. Outside, you may see the River de la Plata and check out the military boat on the premises.
