Sights of Uruguay: nature and architecture. Cities of Uruguay

Uruguay on the map of the world occupies a very small area - only one hundred and eighty thousand square kilometers. It is one of the smallest states located on the territory of South America. Uruguay is on the Atlantic coast. Its population is only three and a half million.

general information

Even in spite of the small size that Uruguay occupies on the world map, it is considered one of the cleanest, quietest and, most importantly, safe countries of the continent.

The capital of the state is Montevideo. Until the era of Spanish colonization, only Indians from the Charrua tribe lived here. Their peaceful life ended when the Europeans arrived. And although the Spaniards did not wield a sword here, as it was in Central America, nevertheless they completely changed the way of aborigines. For example, they brought horses that no one had seen here. Soon the Uruguayan horses were recognized by the whole continent.

The dispute over this territory began between Argentina and Brazil. And only in 1828, between the two countries was signed a mutual renunciation of claims to the Uruguayan lands. It was at this time that the creation of an independent state was proclaimed. The basis of the Uruguayan people today is not the Charrua Indians, whom the conquistadors exterminated, and the Creoles are the descendants of the colonists. In the second half of the nineteenth century, a flood of immigrants from Europe. They were Italians, Germans, Frenchmen, Spaniards, Slavs. Today, Uruguay is considered the most Europeanized country in Latin America.

Nature

The Uruguay landscape is a kind of transition zone between the Argentine plains and the Brazilian hills. Along its eastern coast stretches a strip of sandy beaches and the marvelous beauty of the lagoons.

In general, the natural conditions of this country are rather monotonous. The climate of Uruguay is mild, warm, moderately moist. Chernozemlike soil prevails on the plains dominating everywhere. This favors the cultivation of grain and subtropical fruit crops.

The fauna of Uruguay is also amazing. Here live hundreds of mammals, among which there are species of fox, deer, etc. The flora of the country is the national pride of local residents. There are a huge number of forests, incredible beauty beaches, lagoons, dunes and other beautiful natural landscapes. Uruguay today is the National System of Specially Protected Natural Territories - SNAP.

The best time to visit this Latin American country is from January to April. Tourists from all over the world come here to see the sights of Uruguay, its natural resources and architectural monuments.

Cities and resorts

Here people aspire not only for cognitive excursions, but also for the sake of rest. On the Atlantic coast in Uruguay, a lot of resorts. The most famous of them are Punta Colorada and Punta del Este. The latter consists of a series of snow-white beaches, hotels and hotels. And although its population is only ten thousand people, Punta del Este annually takes about half a million tourists.

Fans of outdoor activities like cities such as Carmelo or Mercedes. Tourists are attracted here by sea fishing, yachting and surfing. For those who prefer city tourism, it is better to go to Colonia del Sacramento. Uruguay is characterized by monocentrism: the only metropolis is its capital - Montevideo. The rest of the city is ten times smaller than it. The second largest settlement in Uruguay is the Salto with a population of just over one hundred thousand people. He got the fame of the local Ibiza thanks to the vibrant nightlife.

Travel around Uruguay, many visit the small town of Tacuarembo. There are a lot of statues, sculptures and monuments. Every year in Takuarembo, the cowboy festival "Homeland of the Gaucho" is held, lasting three days.

Architecture of Uruguay

Masterpieces of architecture in this country are not so many, as for example, in Brazil or Argentina. Nevertheless, travelers can see many monuments of architecture. The first buildings in the style of classicism in the country appeared after the founding of the fortress of Montevideo.

Its colonial architecture is known for the city of Punta del Este. Here, historical buildings coexist with fashionable modern hotels and chic villas, which are also considered attractions. One of the most interesting architectural objects of this city is the unique Kasapuiblo - a complex that can be called a real work of art. This magnificent building is located on the shore of the bay and is considered one of the symbols of the country. The project of the construction was developed by the Uruguayan painter and sculptor Carlos Paez Vilaro. The construction of Casapuablo lasted thirty-six years.

Capital

The main city of Uruguay - Montevideo dates back to 1726. It was at this time that the Spaniards founded the fortress of the same name. The old part of the city is a massive building. Here are such famous landmarks of Uruguay as the fortress, the cathedral, the theater, the parliament building, the New Town Hall. The developed infrastructure of the suburbs of Montevideo contributes to beach-resort rest.

In the capital is the official residence of the head of the country. It is located on Independence Square. Construction of the residence with the original name "Executive Tower" was started in 1965 year. However, the turbulent events in the country prevented him from completing it on time. And only in 2009 the president moved to this building, which is a real monument of modern architecture.

In Montevideo, the main attractions of Uruguay. In the historical district of the capital, tourists can visit the temple of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the Saints James and Philip. To the guests of the city it is better known as the Cathedral. Montevideo annually receives about six hundred thousand tourists. And in the list of attractions of almost all sightseeing tours, this temple takes the main position. The foundation of the cathedral was laid in 1790-th year. Performed in neoclassical style, it is now considered a national monument of Uruguay.

Fairy-tale city

Montevideo strikes a bizarre combination of different architectural styles. It is here that there are many of the most amazing sights of Uruguay, for example, the wonderful gardens and parks of the Prado and Rodo. Here there is the National Museum of Fine Arts. Tourists can see here more than six thousand works of Uruguayan and foreign artists. The museum exhibits paintings by Pablo Picasso, Serrano, etc. The exhibition includes both classical works and modern art.

Salvo Palace

This is another attraction of Uruguay. Skyscraper Palacio Salvo combines a variety of areas: Art Deco, Neo-Gothic, Neoclassicism and eclecticism. The structure and decoration of this building are based on the motives of the "Divine Comedy". The palace is the highest in Uruguay. By the time of construction, it was considered the second skyscraper in South America. The Palacio Salvo has twenty-seven floors. The height of the structure is one hundred meters.