Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Catedral
Also known as I glesia Matriz, the cathedral was the city 's first public building,
erected in 1804. It houses the remains of some of Uruguay's most important political, religious,
and economic figures, and it's distinguished by its domed bell towers.
Calle Sarandí at Ituzaingó, overlooking Plaza Constitucion. Free admission. Mon-Fri 8am-8pm.
El Cabildo (Old Town Hall)
Uruguay's constitution was signed in the old to wn
hall, which also ser ved as the city 's jailhouse in the 19th centur y. Now a museum, the
Cabildo houses the city 's historic ar chives, as w ell as maps and photos, antiques, cos-
tumes, and artwork.
Juan Carlos Gómez 1362, o verlooking Plaza C onstitucion.
&
02/915-9685.
Free admission. Tues-Sun
2:30-7pm.
Museo de A rte Contemporáneo (Museum of C ontemporary Art)
This
museum is dedicated to contemporar y Uruguayan art, and it exhibits the countr y's big-
gest names. To promote cultural exchange across the region, a section of the museum is
set aside for artists who hail from various South American countries.
Av. 18 de Julio 965, 2nd floor.
&
02/900-6662.
Free admission. Daily noon-8pm.
Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes “Juan Manuel Blanes” (Municipal Museum
of Fine Arts)
The national art-history museum displays Uruguayan artistic styles
from the nation's inception to the present day. Works include oils, engravings, drawings,
sculptures, and documents. Among the gr eat U ruguayan ar tists exhibited ar e J uan
Manuel Blanes, Pedro Figari, Rafael Barradas, José Cúneo, and Carlos Gonzales.
Av. Millán 4015.
&
02/336-2248.
Free admission. Tues-Sun 2-7pm.
Palacio Salvo
Often referred to as the symbol of Montevideo, the 26-story Salvo
Palace was once the tallest building in South America. It was the work of eccentric Italian
architect Mario Palanti, who also designed the v ery similar str ucture Palacio Barolo on
Buenos Aires's Avenida de M ayo. Though you might expect such an iconic building to
be open to the public and hav e a vista station in its to wer, there isn't such a thing. The
lobby to this residential tower is, however, open, and periodically has exhibits r elated to
the structure, or on other themes av ailable for free.
Plaza Independencia and Av. 18 de Julio.
Palacio Taranco
Now the decorative arts museum, the Taranco Palace was built
in the early 20th century and represents the trend toward French architecture during that
period. The museum displays U ruguayan furnitur e, draperies, clocks, paintings, and
other cultural works.
Calle 25 de Mayo 379.
&
02/915-6060.
Free admission. Tues-Sat 10am-6pm.
Plaza Independencia
Originally the site of a S panish citadel, I ndependence
Square marks the beginning of the O ld City, and it's a good point fr om which to begin
your tour of M ontevideo. Only one gate to the old for tress remains on the P laza. An
enormous statue of G en. José Gervasio Artigas, father of Uruguay and hero of its inde-
pendence mo vement, stands in the center . H is ashes ar e display ed in a mausoleum
underground, beneath the monument. It's a severe, modern structure, with eerie lighting
reminiscent of a horror movie. A changing-of-the-guards ceremony takes place every few
hours. You'd be lucky to catch it.
Bordered by Av. 18 de Julio, Florida, and Juncal.
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