Montevideo, Uruguay

In January 2015, we took a 3 week adventure around South America. Our first stop was Montevideo, the capital and largest city in Uruguay. Most of our time was spent wandering around Ciudad Vieja (Old City) and trying the local cuisine.

Walk Around Ciudad Vieja

Plaza Independencia is one of the main squares in Montevideo. It separates Ciudad Vieja from the downtown area and is a good starting point to explore the city. There are many important landmarks around the Plaza including the Solis Theatre, Palacio Salvo, the Old City Wall.

In the Plaza center, you'll find steps that take you down to see the Artigas Mausoleum. This monument is dedicated to Uruguay's national hero, Jose Artigas.

A short walk from Plaza Independencia is Plaza Matriz. During the day a small market is setup with lots of unique things to buy. This market caters to the vast number of cruise ship tourists stopping by the city for the day.

The large fountain in the middle of the square is a great place to take a photo.

In one corner of Plaza you'll find the Cathedral, Iglesia Matriz. This is the main Roman Catholic church in Montevideo.

Walking towards the old port, you'll run into Plaza Zabala. This is a great place to stop and have an ice cream. The monument in the center of the Plaza is dedicated to Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, the founder of the city.

The small Plaza has a children's playground and some exercise equipment. Our little guy couldn't resist trying things out.

Local Cuisine

If you ask a local what to eat, they'll tell you Chivito. This is a local dish made from beef, ham, mushrooms, salad, tomatoes, french fries, peas, potatoes, mayo, cheese, and a fried egg. It's definitely a "heart attack on a plate" but so delicious!