Montevideo is Uruguay's cultural, political and economic center. The city has impressive buildings and monuments as well as a large variety of museums and theaters. There are nice sidewalk cafes, good restaurants, chic shops and miles of clean beaches.
Cuidad Vieja, the old town of Montevideo
The Cuidad Vieja is the oldest part of the city. It is the historical centerpiece and the absolute highlight of Montevideo. A visit to the old town is like a trip to the 18th and 19th centuries.
City Palace on Peatonal Sarandi
Many of the sights are part of the national cultural heritage. The Ciudad Vieja is only around one square kilometer in size. It is surrounded on three sides by the Rio de la Plata, to the east it borders on Plaza Independencia, the most important square in Montevideo. Until 1829 it was surrounded by a wall.
One of the most beautiful places in Ciudad Vieja is the Plaza de la Constitución, also called Plaza Matriz. The cathedral of Montevideo, the Catedral Metropolitana, is located here. It was built in the neoclassical style between 1790 and 1804. It has been the Episcopal Church of the Archdiocese of Montevideo since 1897. Opposite is the Cabildo, seat of government in colonial times, then court and prison. Today the building houses the National History Museum. The Plaza Zabala is also pretty, in the middle of which is the statue of Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, the founder of Montevideo.
You shouldn't think of the Cuidad Vieja as a museum where time has stood still. Despite the tranquil atmosphere, the city is full of life here too. Banks or administrations have their seat in the buildings, there are art galleries and many small shops. The pedestrian zone Calle Sarandi is a good one kilometer long and leads from the Rambla to Plaza Independencia. Street cafes, restaurants and bars invite you to linger.
Peatonal Sarandi
It is also busy in the port area on the north side of Cuidad Vieja. The port is one of the few deep water ports in South America. Much of Uruguay's foreign trade is handled through the port.
Opposite is the Port Market, a huge market hall completed in 1868. The cast iron construction comes from Liverpool. In the Mercado del Puerto and the street market next to it, you can buy almost anything from fresh food to handicrafts.
Port Market
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Food stall in the Mercado del Puerto
The specialty of the Mercado del Puerto, however, are the open restaurants with large grills on which meat, fish and vegetables are prepared. The meat portions on the plates are huge. Not only vegetarians get puzzled there.
There is a special attraction in the harbor: the Graf Spee's anchor. During the Second World War, the ironclad sought protection in the port of neutral Montevideo. To avoid a sea battle with the British, the crew sank the ship themselves in December 1939. The anchor was later raised and is on display in the port area of Montevideo.
Anchor of the German battleship Graf Spee
Plaza Independencia, the Independence Square
From the direction of the old town you enter the square through the Puerta de la Ciutadella. The historic gate of the colonial citadel in the former city wall is supported by a wall at the rear, i.e. towards the square. In the middle of Plaza Independencia is the statue of General José Gervasio Artigas, hero of the Uruguayan independence movement. The general's remains are in a mausoleum under the statue and are guarded by an honor guard.
The square is surrounded by beautiful old buildings, such as the Palacio Estévez, formerly the seat of the president, now the government museum, and the Palacio Salvo, symbol of the city and the tallest building in South America when it was opened in 1927. The Teatro Solis is also located on Plaza Independencia. It was built in 1856 and is the oldest and most important theater in Uruguay. It was extensively restored from 1998 to 2004, with drafts from the famous architect and designer Philippe Starck.
Montevideo's main shopping street is 3½ kilometers long. It starts at Plaza Independencia and leads to the Obelisco a los Constituyentes de 1830, the Obelisk of Montevideo, at Parque Batllo.
The obelisk was inaugurated in 1938 and is a reminder of the first Uruguayan constitution. It is triangular, made of granite, and 40 meters high. The bronze statues on the sides represent law, freedom and strength.
The Avenida 18 de Julio crosses some beautiful places: the Plaza Fabini, the Plaza Cagancha familiar with the Columna de la Paz or a Plaza de los Treinta y Tres Orientales.
Columna de la Paz on Av. 18 de Julio
The Intendencia, the town hall of Montevideo, is also on Avenida 18 de Julio. The town hall itself is a modern, functional building and is not one of the city's attractions. However, there is a public viewing platform on the 22nd floor. At a height of almost 80 meters, you have a wonderful panoramic view of Montevideo from this “Mirador”.
open 10am to 16pm, access is free
Museums
The sights in Montevideo also include a large number of important museums: on the history of the country, on art and culture, as well as natural history, botanical and zoological collections. Examples of the wide range:
Museo Historico Nacional, National Museum of History, in the Cabildo in the Plaza de la Constitución in the Cuidad Vieja.
General Artigas Military Museum, military history museum, in the Fortaleza on the Cerro de Montevideo.
Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, on Avenida Millan in Parque Prado.
Museum of the Carnival, Carnival History Museum, Rambla 25 de Agusto, opposite the ferry terminal.
Parks, beaches and the Cerro of Montevideo
The three largest parks in the city not only invite residents of Montevideo to linger. The Parque Batlle begins at the end of Avenida 18 de Julio behind the obelisk. In the park are the Centenario Stadium and some interesting monuments such as the Monumento La Carreta. The Miquelete River flows through Parque Prado. The botanical garden and the rose garden are particularly beautiful in this park. Parque Rodo borders the Rambla on Ramirez Beach. A popular street market is held in the west of the park every Sunday.
The Cerro de Montevideo is only 130 meters high. The hill is at the end of the promenade around Montevideo Bay. Above is the Fortaleza del Cerro, which was built between 1809 and 1839. It has been rebuilt many times and has served as a military museum since 1916. The Cerro de Montevideo offers a beautiful view over the city and the bay, especially at sunset.
Cerro de Montevideo
Montevideo is a city with many attractive Beaches. Even near the center, the beaches are clean and the water quality is considered good. East of the Cuidad Vieja are the recommended beaches, Playa Ramirez and Playa de los Pocitos, both of which can be easily reached via the Rambla. A beautiful beach west of Cerro de Montevideo is Playa Del National.
For one day we are in the port of Montevideo on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship. The Report on our shore excursion can be found at: Montevideo on your own - our shore excursion.
Update February 2024