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Plaza Independencia, Montevideo
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Plaza Independencia, Montevideo

Casa de Gobierno - Montevideo
Casa de Gobierno
by globetrott
Plaza Independencia tips and photos posted by real travelers and Montevideo locals.

Florida/Ave. 18 de Julio
• 47 Photos
• 20 Reviews

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Montevideo Plaza Independencia Reviews 1 - 10 of 20  
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Plaza Independencia: PLAZA INDEPENDENCIA
  • Tip Rating:
    • mtncorg
  • By mtncorg on December 19, 2004
  • Montevideo Page by mtncorg
    • Artigas and the Salvo dominate Plaza Indendencia - Montevideo
    Artigas and the Salvo dominate
    Plaza Indendencia
    by mtncorg
    The old government house on the south side and Radisson Hotel on the north frame the square’s main feature, a 17 meter high equestrian statue of Uruguay’s version of San Martin, Jose Gervasio Artigas. Below ground, a 24-hour guard watches over Artigas’ remains. Artigas had been a soldier of the colonial guard, which watched over the western Uruguayan borders protecting from the odd Indian or Portugese. With the rebellion of 25 May 1810 in BsAs, similar sentiments came over to this side of the river. In 1811, Artigas was commissioned in the patriot army, in BsAs, and returned to lead the fight in the Banda Oriental, slowly moving on the royalist center here in Montevideo. Artigas became a very popular figure much to the dismay of the Unitarians in BsAs. After several twists and turns, Artigas – with help from BsAs – captured Montevideo in 1814. He had always hoped for a confederation of equal provinces and became a leading voice for Federalism. The Unitarian launched a couple of forays across the river at him, which he defeated, and he proclaimed Uruguay, Entre Rios, Corrientes and Santa Fe to be the League of Free Peoples of the Littoral with himself as Protector. Not a dictator in the true sense of the word, he preferred to work through local cabildos. He is best known for his attempts to break up large haciendas to give unused lands to some of his humble followers, but what really scared the porteno Unitarians was his naïve belief that government by the people should include everyone – even the lower classes and Indians. The people in BsAs were only to glad to see the Portugese invade Uruguay in 1816, watching as Artigas finally fled Uruguay in 1820 living the last 30 years of his life in a Paraguayan exile.

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  • Website: http://www.chasque.apc.org/guifont/artigas.htm
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    Plaza Independencia: The monument & Mausoleum of Jose Gervasio Artigas
  • Tip Rating:
    • globetrott
  • Updated By globetrott on March 14, 2008
  • Montevideo Page by globetrott
    • The monument & Mausoleum of Jose Gervasio Artigas - Montevideo
    The monument & Mausoleum of
    Jose Gervasio Artigas
    by globetrott, 4 more photos
    The monument for General Jose Gervasio Artigas is in the centre of Plaza Independencia. General Artigas was born in Montevideo in 1764 and he is considdered the "father" of Uruquai's movement for independance. Artigas died in exile in Paraguay in 1850. You can step below this monument and will get to the mausoleum with the ashes of the General, a guard in a colorful uniform is guarding it all the time.

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  • Directions: This monument is in the very centre of Plaza Independencia !
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    Plaza Independencia: the centre of town
  • Tip Rating:
    • globetrott
  • Updated By globetrott on March 15, 2008
  • Montevideo Page by globetrott
    • Plaza Independencia - Montevideo
    by globetrott, 4 more photos
    Plaza Independencia is the centre of Montevideo in many ways : first of all you will see there the only remains of the former citadel, the monument of General Gervasio Artigas, who is considered the father of Uruguay's independance - movement, there is Casa de Gobierno and there is Palcio Salvo, the giant house that used to be South Americas tallest building for a long time and just a few steps from the square there is Solis Theatre.
    And besides of all this Plaza Independencia is a great place to relax, spend some time on shady benches under the palmtrees....

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  • Directions: The Plaza borders the eastern side of the Ciudad Vieja.
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    Plaza Independencia: Puerta de la Ciudadela
  • Tip Rating:
    • globetrott
  • Updated By globetrott on March 15, 2008
  • Montevideo Page by globetrott
    • Puerta de la Ciudadela in Montevideo - Montevideo
    Puerta de la Ciudadela in
    Montevideo
    by globetrott, 3 more photos
    Puerta de la Ciudadela is the only gate of the original citadel of Montevideo that was left over. That citadel had been buit in 1746 and Puerta de la Ciudadela is now at the eastern side of Plaza Independencia, just about 50 meters from the monument for General Jose Gervasio Artigas .

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  • Directions: Puerta de la Ciudadela is at the eastern side of Plaza Independencia.
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    Plaza Independencia: Independence Square
  • Tip Rating:
    • pili
  • By pili on July 31, 2004
  • Montevideo Page by pili
    • Independence Square - Montevideo
    Independence Square
    by pili
    The city's greatest square is Independence Square. In its center you will find a statue to the 'father' of Uruguay, General Gervasio Artigas, who founded the independence movement of the 19th century. The General's ashes are contained at the base of the statue.-
    The main avenue of the city, 18 de Julio, starts from the square, toward west.-

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    Plaza Independencia: Casa de Gobierno
  • Tip Rating:
    • globetrott
  • Updated By globetrott on March 15, 2008
  • Montevideo Page by globetrott
    • Casa de Gobierno - Montevideo
    Casa de Gobierno
    by globetrott, 3 more photos
    Casa de Gobierno is one of the smaller buildings of Plaza Independencia when you compare it with the modern, giant skyscapers there. Casa de Goierno was built in 1873,it is the building for the government of Uruguay.

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  • Directions: Casa de Gobierno is at Plaza Independencia and Florida Street.
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    Plaza Independencia: Plaza Independencia
  • Tip Rating:
    • andal13
  • Updated By andal13 on July 30, 2003
  • Montevideo Page by andal13
    • Plaza Independencia - Montevideo
    Plaza Independencia
    by andal13
    Plaza Independencia is the main square; it is the limit between Ciudad Vieja (Old City) and downtown. The square is decorated with palm-trees and fountains; an equestrian statue of our national hero, José Artigas, is situated at the middle of the square; behind and beneath it, it is the Mausoleo, where is an urn with Artiga's rests.

    Plaza Independencia es la plaza principal; está situada en el límite entre la Ciudad Vieja y el Centro. La plaza está decorada con palmeras y fuentes; una estatua ecuestre de nuestro héroe nacional, José Artigas, está ubicada en el medio de la plaza; por detrás y debajo de la misma, se encuentra el Mausoleo, en donde se preserva la urna con los restos de Artigas.

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    Plaza Independencia: Plaza Independencia
  • Tip Rating:
    • MikeAtSea
  • By MikeAtSea on April 5, 2008
  • Montevideo Page by MikeAtSea
    • Plaza Independencia - Montevideo
    Plaza Independencia
    by MikeAtSea,
    2 more photos
    The Plaza Independencia marks the beginning of the Old City and was originally the site of a Spanish citadel featuring a huge statue of General José Gervasio Artigas who is the hero of the country’s independent movement. His ashes are located in a mausoleum under the monument.

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  • Directions: The Plaza borders the eastern side of the Ciudad Vieja.
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    Plaza Independencia: Plaza Independencia - Montevideo's main square
  • Tip Rating:
    • barryg23
  • Updated By barryg23 on January 25, 2009
  • Montevideo Page by barryg23
    • Teatro Solis - Montevideo
    Teatro Solis
    by barryg23, 4 more photos
    The always busy Plaza Independencia is the heart of Montevideo and contains a number of important buildings as well as an impressive statue of Uruguayan hero Jose Artigas. Our hostel was on one corner of the square and we had a balcony overlooking it giving us a great view.

    Artigas is buried under the square and you can visit his mausoleum taking the steps down the sides of the statue.

    The building in the south-east corner, Palacio Salvo, was once the tallest in South America and it still dominates the square today.

    Also look out for the city's main theater, Teatro Solis, and Puerta de la Ciudadela, the atmospheric old ruins of a gateway which marks the entrance to the old town.

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  • Directions: The Plaza borders the eastern side of the Ciudad Vieja.
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    Plaza Independencia: Plaza Independencia
  • Tip Rating:
    • travelteacher
  • By travelteacher on January 4, 2005
  • Montevideo Page by travelteacher
    • Artigas' Tomb - Montevideo
    Artigas' Tomb
    by travelteacher
    Like most of the Plazas in South America, there are benches to sit on, and day and night couples stroll through drinking their Mate. In the center, is the tomb of General Artigas, the "father" of Uruguay. The statue in the picture sits at the top of the stairs leading down to the tomb.

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  • Directions: The Plaza borders the Eastern side of the Ciudad Vieja.
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