Walking Tour of Montevideo, Uruguay
An interesting side trip from Buenos Aires involves a visit to Montevideo, Uruguay, northeast across the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. Its Old City is a cluster of small streets lined with 18th century, Colonial Spanish buildings.
My walk begins at the Plaza Independencia, on the edge of the Old City. The square centers on an equestrian statue of Jose Artigas, the national hero of Uruguay. At one end of the square is the Palacio Salvo, admired for its architecture and once the tallest building in South America.
Now, walk south from the square, on Liniers Juncal, all the way to the river, and then turn right on the Rambla, a palm-tree-lined esplanade which winds around the waterfront. You will be walking westward, then northward, then eastward before you reach the Mercado del Puerto (Port Market), a former train station, converted into a marketplace, with a treasure-trove of restaurants. Linger in the Parrilladas, bistros specializing in barbeque meat and fish and then continue east on the Rambla to Zambala, and then turn right.
When you reach Buenos Aires, turn left to see the Teatro Solis, the city’s beautiful opera house. Continue east on Buenos Aires and then turn left on Misiones, to get to the Palacio Taranco, now a museum, at the corner of 25 de Mayo.
Now, walk east on 25 de Mayo and turn right on Ituzaingo. At the intersection of Sarandi, you will find the Iglesia Matriz, the city’s cathedral, built in 1804. Near the church, along Sarandi, is the Plaza de la Constitucion, another notable city square. On the east side of the square is Montevideo’s Town Hall (Cabildo). To return to the starting point, continue east on Sarandi. When you reach Plaza Independencia, you may extend the walk a bit, by crossing the square and proceeding east on Avenida 18 de Julio, to reach the Museo del Gaucho de la Moneda (Museum of Gauchos and Money), an interesting and unique museum which is certainly worth a look. After your visit retrace your steps back to Plaza Independencia.
