Palacio Salvo (Av. 18 de Julio y Plaza Independencia, Montevideo) – this landmark building was built by Italian immigrant Mario Palanti in 1928 (using Italian gothic, classical, and neo-romantic architectural styles). For decades, it was the tallest building in South America. Nowadays, along with it being a tourist attraction, some of the floors are rented […]
Naval Museum of Montevideo (Rambla Charles de Gaulle, Pocitos, Montevideo) – this museum is dedicated to the country’s navy, complete with historical cannons, along with model ships, photos and other memorabilia of this military branch’s past. A library and archives can also be found here. The most interesting exhibit here is the account of the […]
National Museum of Visual Arts (Av. Tomás Giribaldi 2283, Parque Rodó, Montevideo) –opened in 1911, this museum displays the works of various Uruguayan artists (Blanes, Barradas, Figari, Sáez, García Torres, Cuneo). It has also held exhibits of renowned international artists, such as Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, Henry Cartier Bresson, Goya, Diego […]
Museum of Decorative Arts (Palacio Taranco, Plaza Zabala, Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo) – this museum has a collection of various paintings, sculptures, textiles, ornaments, and European furniture (including that of Louis XV, Louis XVI, Ribera, Teniers, Mierevelt, Van der Helst, Appiani, Pradila, Zuloaga, and Sorella. This museum also has a collection of Classical Art and Archaeology […]
Museo Torres García (Sarandi 683, Montevideo) – housed with the historic Palacio Heber, this museum is named after Uruguayan native Joaquin Torres García (a famous Cubist artist) — who spent much of his artistic career in France. There’s an impressive collection of Garcia’s paintings, drawings, writings (and even furniture) as well as the photographs, magazines […]
Museo del Gaucho y de la Moneda (Av. 18 de Julio 998, Barrio Sur, Montevideo) – this museum pays homage to the country’s gauchos (cowboys), their horses, and the campo (countryside). There’s an impressive collection of artifacts, such as horse gear, silver works, matés and bombillas (filtered metal straws – used for sipping the country’s […]
Museo del Carnaval (Rambla 25 de Agosto 1825 Nº 218 esq. Maciel Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo) – launched in 2006, this museum (located near the Mercado del Puerto) highlights the country’s annual Carnaval festivities and its significance to Uruguayan culture. It also has exhibits on the African-based drum-based dance and music form “Candombe” – which is […]
Monumento al Ahogado (Parada 1, Playa Brava, Punta del Este) – this intriguing sculpture (depicting five human fingers emerging from the sand) was made by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal in 1982, and was placed at this beach at Punta del Este. Irarrázabal was inspired to make this public artwork by the beach’s rough waters (as […]
Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral (Ituzaingo 1373, Montevideo) – this is the country’s main Roman Catholic Church, and the seat of its archdiocese (built by the Spanish during its colonial era). The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and the patron saints of the city (San Felipe and Santiago, that the Apostles Saints Philip and James).
Juan Manuel Blanes Museum (Av. Millan 4015, Montevideo) – named after the patriotic Uruguayan artist Juan Manuel Blanes, this is the museum of the city of Mo. Housed in a villa from the 1870s, the museum displays artwork made by the country’s artists from the early day of Uruguayan independence to the present. Admission: free. […]