Montevideo Sights

  1. Casa Garibaldi

    Casa Garibaldi is where Guiseppe Garibaldi once lived. The 19th-century Italian nationalist hero spent years of exile in Montevideo following a revolt against the monarchy. Not a bad place to go into hiding, really.

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  2. Casa Rivera

    The National Historical Museum consists of several dispersed Ciudad Vieja houses. The centerpiece is 19th-century Casa Rivera, the former home of Uruguay's first president and founder of the Colorado Party, Fructuoso Rivera. The collection of paintings, documents, furniture and artifacts traces Uruguayan history from indigenous roots through to independence.

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  3. Mausoleo de Artigas

    In the middle of the downtown Plaza Independencia is the Mausoleo de Artigas, whose aboveground portion is a 17m, 30-ton statue of the country's independence hero. Below street level an honor guard keeps 24-hour vigil over Artigas' remains.

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  4. Mercado del Puerto

    No visitor should miss Montevideo's old port market building, at the foot of Pérez Castellano, whose impressive wrought-iron superstructure shelters a gaggle of reasonably priced parrillas (steak restaurants) Especially on Saturday afternoons, it's a lively, colorful place where the city's artists, craftspeople and street musicians hang out.

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  5. Museo Romántico

    The National Historical Museum consists of several dispersed Ciudad Vieja houses. The 18th-century Museo Romántico is filled with paintings and antique furniture.

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  6. Museo Torres García

    This museum showcases the work of 20th-century Uruguayan painter Torres García and has revolving exhibitions featuring other contemporary artists.

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  7. Palacio Estévez

    The 18th-century Palacio Estévez, on the south side of the Plaza Independencia, was the Government House until 1985.

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  8. Palacio Salvo

    On the east side of the Plaza Independencia, the 26-story structure with the crazy beehive hairdo is Palacio Salvo, the continent's tallest building when it opened in 1927.

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  9. Plaza Independencia

    Plaza Independencia is at the heart of Montevideo's Ciudad Vieja (old city). This broad square, lined with palms, is dominated by a huge statue of José Artigas, Uruguay's greatest hero. You can pay your respects to Artigas at his underground tomb beneath the statue.

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  10. Teatro Solís

    Just off Plaza Independencia, elegant Teatro Solís is Montevideo's premier performance space. First opened in 1856, and completely renovated during the past decade, it has superb acoustics. Regularly scheduled tours (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) are the only way to see the actual performance space without attending a show.

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