Colonia del Sacramento ( Spanish: [koˈlonja ðel sakɾaˈmento] ; Portuguese : Colônia do Sacramento ) is a city in southwestern Uruguay , by the Río de la Plata , facing Buenos Aires , Argentina . It is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay and the capital of the Colonia Department . It has a population of around 27,000.
75-615: Cementerio del Buceo is a cemetery in Montevideo , Uruguay . It was established in 1872. It is located in the barrio of Buceo , near the shores of the Río de la Plata . Nearby is the British Cemetery . Montevideo Montevideo ( / ˌ m ɒ n t ɪ v ɪ ˈ d eɪ oʊ / , US also /- ˈ v ɪ d i oʊ / ; Spanish: [monteβiˈðeo] ) is the capital and largest city of Uruguay . According to
150-532: A few days. Rainfall and sleet are a frequent winter occurrence, but snowfall is extremely rare: flurries have been recorded only four times but with no accumulation, the last one on 13 July 1930 during the inaugural match of the World Cup , (the other three snowfalls were in 1850, 1853 and 1917); the alleged 1980 Carrasco snowfall was actually a hailstorm . Summers are warm-hot and humid, with less wind than other seasons. The average temperature in this season
225-464: A football section based at Estadio Néstor Naviliat . The town's Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos is a disused bullring which has been renovated and repurposed as a performing arts venue. The Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) section of Colonia del Sacramento is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . It has some cobblestone streets built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, and
300-566: A large central square called Towers Square. World Trade Center 1 was the first building to be inaugurated, in 1998. It has 22 floors and 17,100 square meters of space. That same year the avenue and the auditorium were raised. World Trade Center 2 was inaugurated in 2002, a twin tower of World Trade Center 1. Finally, in 2009, World Trade Center 3 and the World Trade Center Plaza and the Towers Square were inaugurated. It
375-474: A mayor elected by the citizens registered in the constituency. This division, according to the Municipality of Montevideo, "aims to advance political and administrative decentralization in the department of Montevideo, with the aim of deepening the democratic participation of citizens in governance." The head of each Municipio is called an alcalde or (if female) alcaldesa . Of much greater importance
450-464: A mild humid subtropical climate , described by the Köppen climate classification as Cfa . Summers are warm and winters are cool, with relatively frequent frosts and fog . The precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 1,039 mm (40.91 in), and the annual average temperature is 17 °C (63 °F). The city was developed on a peninsula that protrudes into
525-538: A period of growth and expansion started for the city. In 1853 a stagecoach bus line was established joining Montevideo with the newly formed settlement of Unión and the first natural gas street lights were inaugurated. From 1854 to 1861 the first public sanitation facilities were constructed. In 1856 the Teatro Solís was inaugurated, 15 years after the beginning of its construction. By Decree, in December 1861
600-531: A post. José de Garro sent spies from Santo Domingo de Soriano on 22 February 1680, after receiving a negative response on 10 February to his ultimatum to leave the site. Garro sent a force of 3,400 men under the command of Antonio de Vera Mujica, capturing the besieged town on the night of 6–7 August 1680. Lobo was taken as a prisoner to Buenos Aires, where he died on 7 January 1683. A treaty between Spain and Portugal signed in 1681 returned Colonia to Portugal. Field Marshal Duarte Teixeira Chaves arrived off
675-484: A rank the city has consistently held since 2005. As of 2010 , Montevideo was the 19th largest city economy in the continent and 9th highest income earner among major cities . In 2022, it has a projected GDP of $ 53.9 billion, with a per capita of $ 30,148. In 2018, it was classified as a beta global city ranking eighth in Latin America and 84th in the world. Montevideo hosted every match during
750-785: A real city was not reached until 1 January 1730. It was also under brief British rule in 1807 , but eventually the city was retaken by Spanish criollos who defeated the British invasions of the River Plate . Montevideo is the seat of the administrative headquarters of Mercosur and ALADI , Latin America 's leading trade blocs, a position that entailed comparisons to the role of Brussels in Europe. The 2019 Mercer's report on quality of life, rated Montevideo first in Latin America,
825-421: A sustainable city open to the community as a hub for the knowledge economy industry on a 500-hectare site, which includes forests and seven kilometers of coastline, with beaches such as Calabrés and Fernando. The rule from 1680 to present (with flag of the period) is: In 2011 Colonia del Sacramento had a population of 26,231. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay Colonia del Sacramento has
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#1732791404801900-429: Is 23 °C (73 °F). Daytime temperatures are usually between 24 °C (75 °F) and 32 °C (90 °F), while night lows between 14 °C (57 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F). During this season, a moderate wind often blows from the sea in the evenings which has a pleasant cooling effect on the city, in contrast to the more severe summer heat of nearby cities like Buenos Aires . Heat waves come with
975-585: Is Ciudad Vieja, that was surrounded by a protective wall until 1829. This area contains most important buildings of the colonial era and early decades of independence. The architecture of Montevideo ranges from Neoclassical buildings such as the Montevideo Metropolitan Cathedral to the late-modern style of the World Trade Center Montevideo or the 158-meter (518 ft) ANTEL Telecommunication Tower ,
1050-519: Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Modern Colonia del Sacramento produces textiles and has a free trade zone , in addition to a polytechnic centre and various government buildings. Following the restoration of the Portuguese crown , King Peter II sought the resolution of the southern border of Brazil. Manuel Lobo with 5 ships containing about 400 soldiers, craftsmen, carpenters and stonecutters, and 18 guns, reached San Gabriel Island on 20 January 1680. On 28 January, they commenced establishing
1125-568: Is also the financial hub of Uruguay and the cultural anchor of a metropolitan area with a population of around 2 million. There are several explanations for the word Montevideo . All agree that "Monte" refers to the Cerro de Montevideo , the hill situated across the Bay of Montevideo , but there is disagreement about the etymological origin of the "video" part. When the Portuguese invaded
1200-695: Is characterized by having mild temperatures, without harsh cold or extreme heat. There are numerous thunderstorms but no tropical cyclones. Rainfall is regular and evenly spread throughout the year, reaching around 950 millimeters (37 in). Winters are generally cool, wet, windy and overcast. The average temperature during this season is just above 10 °C (50 °F). Daytime temperatures are generally between 10 °C (50 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F), and night lows between 3 °C (37 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F). During this season, there are bursts of icy and relatively dry winds of continental polar air masses, giving an unpleasant chilly feeling to
1275-700: Is interspersed with rocky protrusions and sandy beaches. The Bay of Montevideo forms a natural harbor, the nation's largest and one of the largest in the Southern Cone , and the finest natural port in the region, functioning as a crucial component of the Uruguayan economy and foreign trade. Various streams crisscross the town and empty into the Bay of Montevideo. Its coastline near the emptying rivers are heavily polluted. The city has an average elevation of 43 meters (141 ft). Its highest elevations are two hills:
1350-399: Is located between the avenues Luis Alberto de Herrera and 26 de Marzo and has 19 floors and 27,000 square meters (290,000 sq ft) of space. The 6,300-square-meter (68,000 sq ft) World Trade Center Plaza is designed to be a center of gastronomy opposite Towers Square and Bonavita St. The Towers Square, is an area of remarkable aesthetic design, intended to be a platform for
1425-676: Is the Estadio Centenario within Parque Batlle . Parque Batlle, Parque Rodó and Parque Prado are Montevideo's three great parks. The Pocitos district, near the beach of the same name, has many homes built by Bello and Reboratti between 1920 and 1940, with a mixture of styles. Other landmarks in Pocitos are the " Edificio Panamericano " designed by Raul Sichero, and the "Positano" and "El Pilar" designed by Adolfo Sommer Smith and Luis García Pardo [ es ] in
1500-563: Is the division of the city into 62 barrios : neighborhoods or wards. Many of the city's barrios —such as Sayago , Ituzaingó and Pocitos —were previously geographically separate settlements, later absorbed by the growth of the city. Others grew up around certain industrial sites, including the salt-curing works of Villa del Cerro and the tanneries in Nuevo París . Each barrio has its own identity, geographic location and socio-cultural activities. A neighborhood of great significance
1575-399: Is under construction as of 2010 . Torre de las Telecomunicaciones (Telecommunications Tower) or Torre Antel (Antel Tower) is the 158 meters (518 ft), 37-floor headquarters of Uruguay's government-owned telecommunications company, ANTEL , and is the tallest building in the country. It was designed by architect Carlos Ott . It is situated by the side of the Bay of Montevideo. The tower
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#17327914048011650-495: Is within walking distance of the town's ferry terminal. Among the tourist attractions around the tree-lined Plaza Mayor (main square) are: Colonia del Sacramento is served by three ferry boat lines from Buenos Aires, Argentina: "Buquebus", "Seacat Colonia" and "Colonia Express". Two principal highways end in Colonia: Route 1 connects Colonia to Montevideo and points east; Route 21 connects to points north, including
1725-575: The Aarón de Anchorena National Park , 30 kilometres (19 mi) distant, and Fray Bentos . There is also a local airport for small planes. There is a project in process to lengthen the runway and begin commercial flights to Buenos Aires (this was done in the past) and other cities within Uruguay. The city is served by Laguna de los Patos International Airport located 6 kilometres (4 mi) from Colonia along Route 1. Argentina and Portugal both maintain
1800-538: The Banda Oriental and annexed it as the province of Cisplatina until 1831, they called the city Montevidéu , and pronounced as European Portuguese: [mõtɨviˈðew] . Between 1680 and 1683, Portugal founded the city of Colonia do Sacramento in the region across the bay from Buenos Aires . This city met with no resistance from the Spanish until 1723, when they began to place fortifications on
1875-640: The Battle of the River Plate with the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy on 13 December 1939, the Graf Spee retreated to Montevideo's port, which was considered neutral at the time. To avoid risking the crew in what he thought would be a losing battle, Captain Hans Langsdorff scuttled the ship on 17 December. Langsdorff committed suicide two days later. The eagle figurehead of the Graf Spee
1950-656: The Canary Islands who were known as Guanches or Canarians . There was also one significant early Italian resident by the name of Jorge Burgues. A census of the city's inhabitants was performed in 1724 and then a plan was drawn delineating the city and designating it as San Felipe y Santiago de Montevideo , later shortened to Montevideo. The census counted more than 100 families of Galician and Canary Islands origin, more than 1000 indigenous people, mostly Guaraní , as well as some trafficked slaves of Bantu origin . A few years after its foundation, Montevideo became
2025-509: The Cerro de Montevideo and the Cerro de la Victoria, with the highest point, the peak of Cerro de Montevideo, crowned by a fortress, the Fortaleza del Cerro at a height of 134 m (440 ft). Closest cities by road are Las Piedras to the north and the so-called Ciudad de la Costa (a conglomeration of coastal towns) to the east, both in the range of 20 to 25 km (16 mi) from
2100-580: The Colorado Party , with each party's name taken from the color of its emblems. In 1838, Oribe was forced to resign from the presidency; he established a rebel army and began a long civil war, the Guerra Grande , which lasted until 1851. The city of Montevideo suffered a siege of eight years between 1843 and 1851 , during which it was supplied by sea with British and French support. By 1843 Montevideo's population of thirty thousand inhabitants
2175-722: The Palacio Legislativo was built; the Spanish Plus Ultra flying boat arrived (the first airplane to fly from Spain to Latin America, 1926); prominent politician and former president José Batlle y Ordóñez died (1929); and the ground was broken (1929) for the Estadio Centenario (completed 1930). During World War II, a famous incident involving the German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee took place in Punta del Este , 200 kilometers (120 mi) from Montevideo. After
2250-587: The Prado and Villa Colón . The Rodó Park and the Estadio Gran Parque Central were also established, which served as poles of urban development. During the early 20th century, Uruguay saw huge social changes with repercussions primarily in urban areas. Among these changes were the right to divorce (1907) and women's right to vote . The 1910s saw the construction of Montevideo's Rambla ; strikes by tram workers, bakers and port workers;
2325-407: The Río de la Plata . The 16-hectare "Barrio Histórico", or Portuguese Old City, was enclosed by a fortification wall across the peninsula in the site of present-day Calle Ituzaingó. Most of the fortification wall was removed in 1777 and some remaining parts again in 1859. The Portuguese part of the city has an irregular street network. Outside the wall, the historical part of the city was planned in
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2400-654: The Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1777, the colony became a Spanish possession once more. It then transferred to Portuguese control again, being later incorporated into Brazil after 1816, when the entire Banda Oriental (Uruguay) was seized by the government of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and renamed the Cisplatina province . On 10 January 1809, before the independence of Uruguay, it
2475-554: The Treinta y Tres Orientales (" Thirty-Three Orientals ") re-established the independence of the region in 1825. Uruguay was consolidated as an independent state in 1828, with Montevideo as the nation's capital. In 1829, the demolition of the city's fortifications began and plans were made for an extension beyond the Ciudad Vieja, referred to as the "Ciudad Nueva" ("new city"). Urban expansion, however, moved very slowly because of
2550-577: The Upper Peru region. The Spanish governor was expelled in 1814. In 1816, Portugal invaded the recently liberated territory and in 1821, it was annexed to the Banda Oriental of Brazil. It was named Imperial City [ pt ] by Emperor Pedro I when the city was part of the Empire of Brazil as the capital of the Cisplatina province . Juan Antonio Lavalleja and his band called
2625-480: The first FIFA World Cup , in 1930. Described as a "vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life", and "a thriving tech center and entrepreneurial culture", Montevideo ranked eighth in Latin America on the 2013 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. The city has preserved European architecture, being considered one of the cities with the most art deco influence. It is the hub of commerce and higher education in Uruguay as well as its chief port. The city
2700-546: The 1950s and 1960s. However, the construction boom of the 1970s and 1980s transformed the face of this neighborhood, with a cluster of modern apartment buildings for upper and upper middle-class residents. The Palacio Legislativo in Aguada, north of the city center, is the seat of the Uruguayan Parliament . Construction started in 1904 and was sponsored by the government of President José Batlle y Ordóñez . It
2775-476: The 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of 201 square kilometers (78 sq mi). Montevideo is situated on the southern coast of the country, on the northeastern bank of the Río de la Plata . A Portuguese garrison was established in the place where today is the city of Montevideo in November 1723. The Portuguese garrison
2850-724: The Italian Legion, the Basque Legion and battalions from Brazil. Finally in 1851, with the additional support of Argentine rebels who opposed Rosas, the Colorados defeated Oribe. The fighting however resumed in 1855, when the Blancos came to power, which they maintained until 1865. Thereafter, the Colorado Party regained power, which they retained until the middle of the 20th century. After the end of hostilities,
2925-466: The San Gabriel islands on 25 January 1683, and commenced to rebuild the settlement. Field Marshal Cristóvão Dornelas Abreu was its governor until 1690, when Dom Francisco Naper de Lencastre took over. Smuggling, and cattle hunting from the Banda Oriental , were the main components of the colony's economy. Lencastre ordered the building of houses of stone and mud with tile roofs, the enlargement of
3000-607: The School of Arts and Trades, as well as Zabala Square in Ciudad Vieja were inaugurated in 1890, followed by the Italian Hospital in 1891. In the same year, the village of Peñarol was founded. Other neighborhoods that were founded were Belgrano and Belvedere in 1892, Jacinto Vera in 1895 and Trouville in 1897. In 1894 the new port was constructed, and in 1897, the Central Railway Station of Montevideo
3075-636: The Spanish colonial style and in the characteristic checkerboard layout. The local professional football team is Plaza Colonia , founded in 1917, playing at the Estadio Profesor Alberto Suppici . They won the 2016 Clausura , their biggest success to date. Deportivo Colonia , founded in 1999, lost its professional status in 2007. They play at the Estadio Miguel Campomar . Club Atlético Plaza has futsal , volleyball and basketball sections, as well as
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3150-484: The Spanish governor were commanded by Baltazar García Ros from 18 October 1704 until 14 March 1705, when the colonists were evacuated by Portuguese ships. Only the churches and bridge remained undestroyed. The colony was given back to Portugal in the Treaty of Utrecht . Manuel Gomes Barbosa took possession on 10 February 1718 with 1,040 colonists. More colonists arrived in 1721. Antonio Pedro de Vasconcellos took over as governor on 14 March 1722 and transformed it into
3225-575: The areas of Aguada and Cordón were incorporated to the growing Ciudad Nueva (New City). In 1866, an underwater telegraph line connected the city with Buenos Aires. The statue of Peace, La Paz , was erected on a column in Plaza Cagancha and the building of the Postal Service as well as the bridge of Paso Molino were inaugurated in 1867. In 1868, the horse-drawn tram company Compañía de Tranvías al Paso del Molino y Cerro created
3300-544: The autumn, but the weather in that season tends to be more windy and volatile, with more dramatic changes in a short period of time. Montevideo has an annual average temperature of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F). The lowest recorded temperature is −5.6 °C (21.9 °F) while the highest is 42.8 °C (109.0 °F). Source 3: Weather Atlas(daylight-UV) As of 2010 , the city of Montevideo has been divided into 8 political municipalities ( Municipios ), referred to with letters from A to G, including CH, each presided over by
3375-521: The city center. The approximate distances to the neighboring department capitals by road are, 90 km (56 mi) to San Jose de Mayo (San Jose Department) and 46 km (29 mi) to Canelones (Canelones Department). Montevideo has a Humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ) in a middle latitude, the city experiences the four seasons. It has cool winters (June to August), warm to hot summers (December to February), mild autumns (March to May) and volatile springs (September to November); The climate
3450-598: The city has maintained 15 years of economic growth, with a GDP of $ 44 billion, and a GDP per capita of $ 25,900. Montevideo has consistently been rated as having the highest quality of life of any city in Latin America: by 2015 it held this rank every year during the decade through 2014. Montevideo is situated on the north shore of the Río de la Plata, the arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates
3525-585: The city walls, and the addition of a fortified tower. The colonists grew wheat, hemp flax, and grape vines, and exported cattle hides to Rio de Janeiro, while importing wood and foodstuffs. Sebastião da Veiga Cabral took over as governor in 1699. As a consequence of the War of the Spanish Succession , the governor of Buenos Aires, Valdes Incian, initiated the Siege of Colonia del Sacramento . The forces of
3600-443: The command of General Samuel Auchmuty and Admiral Charles Stirling occupied the city during the Battle of Montevideo (1807) , but it was recaptured by the Spanish in the same year on 2 September when John Whitelocke was forced to surrender to troops formed by forces of the Banda Oriental —roughly the same area as modern Uruguay—and of Buenos Aires. After this conflict, the governor of Montevideo Francisco Javier de Elío opposed
3675-503: The development of business activities, art exhibitions, dance and music performances and social places. This square connects the different buildings and towers which comprise the WTC Complex and it is the main access to the complex. The square contains various works of art, notably a sculpture by renowned Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry . World Trade Center 4, with 40 floors and 53,500 square meters (576,000 sq ft) of space
3750-639: The eastern province of the Viceroyalty from Portuguese incursions. In 1776, Spain made Montevideo its main naval base ( Real Apostadero de Marina ) for the South Atlantic, with authority over the Argentine coast, Fernando Po , and the Falklands . Until the end of the 18th century, Montevideo remained a fortified area, today known as Ciudad Vieja . On 3 February 1807, British troops under
3825-558: The elevations around Montevideo Bay. On 22 November 1723, Field Marshal Manuel de Freitas da Fonseca [ pt ] of Portugal built the Montevieu fort. A Spanish expedition was sent from Buenos Aires, organized by the Spanish governor of that city, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala. On 22 January 1724, the Spanish forced the Portuguese to abandon the location and started populating the city, initially with six families moving in from Buenos Aires and soon thereafter by families arriving from
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#17327914048013900-516: The events that followed. Uruguay's 1830s were dominated by the confrontation between Manuel Oribe and Fructuoso Rivera , the two revolutionary leaders who had fought against the Empire of Brazil under the command of Lavalleja, each of whom had become the caudillo of their respective faction. Politics were divided between Oribe's Blancos ("whites"), represented by the National Party , and Rivera's Colorados ("reds"), represented by
3975-475: The everyday life of the city, with daytime temperatures around or below 8 °C (46 °F) and possible night frosts. These occur few times during winter, with temperatures generally not falling below −2 °C (28 °F) because of the oceanic influence that moderates the temperature; a few kilometres inland, frosts are more common and colder. On the other hand, even in the middle of winter it's not uncommon to have temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F) for
4050-457: The first lines connecting Montevideo with Unión, the beach resort of Capurro and the industrialized and economically independent Villa del Cerro , at the time called Cosmopolis . In the same year, the Mercado del Puerto was inaugurated. In 1869, the first railway line of the company Ferrocarril Central del Uruguay was inaugurated connecting Bella Vista with the town of Las Piedras . During
4125-614: The inauguration of electric trams; the creation of the Municipal Intendencias ; and the inauguration of the new port. In 1913, the city limits were extended around the entire gulf. The previously independent localities of the Villa del Cerro and La Teja were annexed to Montevideo, becoming two of its neighborhoods. During the 1920s, the equestrian statue of Artigas was installed in Plaza Independencia ;
4200-462: The main city of the region north of the Río de la Plata and east of the Uruguay River , competing with Buenos Aires for dominance in maritime commerce. The importance of Montevideo as the main port of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata brought it in confrontations with the city of Buenos Aires in various occasions, including several times when it was taken over to be used as a base to defend
4275-656: The military and triggered its fall, allowing the return of democracy. In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II visited the city twice. In April 1987, as head of state of Vatican , he signed a mediation agreement for the conflict of the Beagle Channel . He also held a large mass in Tres Cruces , declaring the cross located behind the altar as a monument. In 1988, he returned to the country, visiting Montevideo, Florida , Salto and Melo . The 2002 Uruguay banking crisis affected several industries of Montevideo. In 2017,
4350-635: The new viceroy Santiago de Liniers , and created a government Junta when the Peninsular War started in Spain, in defiance of Liniers. Elío disestablished the Junta when Liniers was replaced by Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros . During the May Revolution of 1810 and the subsequent uprising of the provinces of Rio de la Plata, the Spanish colonial government moved to Montevideo. During that year and
4425-559: The next, Uruguayan revolutionary José Gervasio Artigas united with others from Buenos Aires against Spain. In 1811, the forces deployed by the Junta Grande of Buenos Aires and the gaucho forces led by Artigas started a siege of Montevideo , which had refused to obey the directives of the new authorities of the May Revolution. The siege was lifted at the end of that year, when the military situation started deteriorating in
4500-588: The north winds, which bring humid and hot air masses from the tropical interior of the continent; temperatures can rise above 35 °C (95 °F). These warm periods are usually followed by thunderstorms, generated by cold fronts from the southwest that lowers temperatures considerably. This phenomenon is regional, and can occur several times all year long. The autumn in Montevideo is quite pleasant and not so unstable. Daytime temperatures are in general around 20 °C (68 °F) and nights around 10 °C (50 °F). Spring average temperatures are very similar to
4575-411: The richest and best-defended city in the Rio de la Plata region. This included the coastal bastions of São Pedro de Alcântara, São Miguel, Santo António, São João, Carmo, and Santa Rita. Another attack during the Spanish–Portuguese War (1735–1737) , failed. Don Luis Garcia de Bivar took over as governor in 1749, but died on 5 March 1760. During that time, the Treaty of Madrid (13 January 1750)
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#17327914048014650-417: The same year and the next, the neighborhoods Colón , Nuevo París and La Comercial were founded. The Sunday market of Tristán Narvaja Street was established in Cordón in 1870. Public water supply was established in 1871. In 1878, Bulevar Circunvalación was constructed, a boulevard starting from Punta Carretas , going up to the north end of the city and then turning west to end at the beach of Capurro. It
4725-410: The south coast of Uruguay from the north coast of Argentina; Buenos Aires lies 230 kilometers (140 mi) west on the Argentine side. The Santa Lucía River forms a natural border between Montevideo and San José Department to its west. To the city's north and east is Canelones Department , with the stream of Carrasco forming the eastern natural border. The coastline forming the city's southern border
4800-446: The tallest skyscraper in the country. Along with the Telecommunications Tower, the Palacio Salvo dominates the skyline of the Bay of Montevideo. The building facades in the Old Town reflect the city's extensive European immigration, displaying the influence of old European architecture. Notable government buildings include the Legislative Palace , the City Hall , Estévez Palace and the Executive Tower . The most notable sports stadium
4875-401: The wider, orthogonal calles in the newer Spanish area. In 2022, it was confirmed Uruguay planned to create a Silicon Valley -style new city in Colonia called Colonia Ala Este, to entice Argentine immigrants due to Argentina's poor economic situation. This would double Colonia's population to about 60,000 people. With an initial investment of more than US$ 100 million, it was planned to build
4950-474: Was completed by American Bridge Company and other design/build consortium team members on 15 March 2000. When its construction was announced, many politicians complained about its cost (US$ 40 million, plus US$ 25 million for the construction of the other 5 buildings of the Telecommunications Complex). Problems during its construction turned the original US$ 65 million price into US$ 102 million. Colonia do Sacramento Its historic quarter
5025-428: Was designated as a "Vila" ("town" in 19th century Portuguese) and has since been elevated to the status of "Ciudad" ("city" in Spanish). Since independence, Colonia del Sacramento has expanded to the north and east, but the original Bairro Histórico (historic quarter in Portuguese or Barrio Histórico, current Spanish spelling) retains its irregular, terrain-fitting street plan built by the Portuguese, contrasting with
5100-502: Was designed by Italian architects Vittorio Meano and Gaetano Moretti [ it ] , who planned the building's interior. Among the notable contributors to the project was sculptor José Belloni , who contributed numerous reliefs and allegorical sculptures . World Trade Center Montevideo officially opened in 1998, but work was completed in 2009. The complex is composed of three towers, two three-story buildings called World Trade Center Plaza and World Trade Center Avenue and
5175-437: Was expelled in February 1724 by a Spanish soldier, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala , as a strategic move amidst the Spanish - Portuguese dispute over the platine region . There is no official document establishing the foundation of the city, but the "Diario" of Bruno Mauricio de Zabala officially mentions the date of 24 December 1726 as the foundation, corroborated by presential witnesses. The complete independence from Buenos Aires as
5250-403: Was highly cosmopolitan with Uruguayans making up only a third of it. The remaining were chiefly Italian (4205), Spanish (3406), Argentine (2553), Portuguese (659), English (606) and Brazilians (492). Oribe, with the support of the then conservative Governor of Buenos Aires Province Juan Manuel de Rosas , besieged the Colorados in Montevideo, where the latter were supported by the French Legion,
5325-410: Was inaugurated. In the early 20th century, many Europeans (particularly Spaniards and Italians but also thousands from Central Europe) immigrated to the city. In 1908, 30% of the city's population of 300,000 was foreign-born. In that decade the city expanded quickly: new neighborhoods were created and many separate settlements were annexed to the city, among which were the Villa del Cerro , Pocitos ,
5400-447: Was never complied with and was finally considered null and void . Brigadier Vicente da Silva da Fonseca then took over as governor. Fonseca was forced to surrender the colony to Pedro Antonio de Cevallos on 11 October 1762. Spain returned the colony in the 1762 Treaty of Fontainebleau, and Dom José Pedro de Figueiredo Sarmento took over as governor on 27 December 1763. He was replaced by Francisco José da Rocha on 15 March 1777. With
5475-520: Was renamed Artigas Boulevard in 1885. By Decree, on 8 January 1881, the area Los Pocitos was incorporated into the Novísima Ciudad (Most New City). The first telephone lines were installed in 1882 and electric street lights took the place of the gas-operated ones in 1886. The Hipódromo de Maroñas started operating in 1888, and the neighborhoods of Reus del Sur, Reus del Norte and Conciliación were inaugurated in 1889. The new building of
5550-484: Was reversed. From the 1960s to the end of the dictatorship in 1985, around one hundred people died or disappeared because of political violence. In 1974 another hundred Uruguayans also disappeared in Argentina. In 1980, the dictatorship proposed a new constitution. The project was submitted to a referendum and rejected in the first polls since 1971, with 58% of the votes against and 42% in favor. The result weakened
5625-481: Was salvaged on 10 February 2006. Uruguay began to stagnate economically in the mid-1950s; Montevideo began a decline, later exacerbated by widespread social and political violence beginning in 1968 (including the emergence of the guerrilla Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros ) and by the Civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay (1973-1985) . There were major problems with supply; the immigration cycle
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