Centro, Montevideo

Centro is a barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay. Its main axis is 18 de Julio Avenue, and it runs between Plaza Independencia and Ejido St, being the central business district.[1]

Centro
Barrio
The Edificio Rex and the El Entrevero fountain in Plaza Fabini
The Edificio Rex and the El Entrevero fountain in Plaza Fabini
Location of Centro in Montevideo
Location of Centro in Montevideo
Coordinates: 34°54′13″S 56°11′18″W
Country Uruguay
DepartmentMontevideo Department
CityMontevideo

The first neighborhood of the city after the demolition of the walls in the first half of the 19th century, it is one of the liveliest and busiest areas of the city, concentrating a large number of offices, commercial spaces and entertainment venues.[2] Politically located in Municipality B of the Department of Montevideo, is also an area known for its preserved European architecture.[3]

History
Rondeau St. in 1910

Due to Montevideo's military origins, for years it was forbidden to build anything permanent outside the walls of the walled city. The area outside the walls was known as "Campo de Marte" or "Ejido".[4] However in 1829 the Constituent General Assembly of the newly created Uruguayan State approved a law that provided for the demolition of the walls of Montevideo. After this decision, the walled city became an open city, and therefore, an urban layout was made to extend it beyond the Ciudad Vieja, in what would be known as Ciudad Nueva ("New City").[5] The plans included a new city square, which in 1840 took on the name Plaza Cagancha.[6] The development of this area was very slow due to the Uruguayan Civil War.[4]

Landmarks

The main sights of the neighborhood are on 18 de Julio Avenue. There are two important city squares: Plaza Fabini, commonly known as Plaza del Entrevero, and Plaza de Cagancha.

Centro is the area of the city with the greatest diversity of architectural styles, mainly European, due to the influence that the country received due to immigration.[7] On one hand, art deco is present in different buildings, such as the Salvo, Rinaldi and Díaz palaces. On the other hand, eclecticism is evident in the Palacio Piria, seat of the Supreme Court,[8] the Buxareo House, seat of the French embassy in Uruguay,[9] the Jockey Club headquarters building,[10] and the Ateneo de Montevideo,[11] among others.

This district houses different government buildings, such as the Executive Tower, workplace of the President, the Palacio Santos, seat of the Ministry of Foreign Relations,[12] the Montevideo City Hall,[13] the Supreme Court and the headquarters of ANCAP, the state-owned oil company.[14]

Places of worship

Several temples have been built in this important neighbourhood.

Street map and main attractions

  1. Edificio Lapido (Palacio de la Tribuna Popular)
  2. Palacio Brazil
  3. Plaza Fabini: Edificio Rex y Sala Zitarrosa, Edificio London París, Subte Municipal
  4. Plaza Cagancha: Edificio Libertad, Palacio Piria, Palacio Montero, Museo Pedagógico, Ateneo de Montevideo, Mercado de los Artesanos, Palacio Chiarino
  5. Mercado de la Abundancia (Restaurants and shows)
  6. Palacio Municipal (City Hall): Michaelangelo's David (replica), Museo de Historia del Arte, Photographic Archive of Montevideo
  7. SODRE (Symphonic Orchestra, Ballet)
  8. ANCAP Building

See also

References
  1. "Barrio Centro | Inmobiliaria Plaza Mayor, Venta, Alquiler y Administración de Propiedades". 2022-08-08. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  2. "Abren nuevas tiendas y buscan reactivar comercios del Centro de Montevideo". EL PAIS. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  3. "El art déco y Uruguay, un recorrido de casi un siglo". 2022-05-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  4. "Centro | Intendencia de Montevideo". 2011-04-26. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  5. "Centro | Municipio B". 2022-07-06. Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  6. "Plaza de Cagancha - Libertad | Municipio B". 2022-08-12. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  7. "Patrimonio arquitectónico en Montevideo: ¿hacia una ciudad sin memoria o un museo urbano?". 2022-05-14. Archived from the original on 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  8. "Suprema Corte de Justicia | Intendencia de Montevideo". 2021-11-18. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  9. "Descubriendo la Casa Buxareo... - La France en Uruguay". 2022-03-07. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  10. "Las fotos del Jockey Club antes de que se convierta en un 5 estrellas". El Observador. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  11. "ATENEO DE MONTEVIDEO | Montevideo Audiovisual". 2022-06-27. Archived from the original on 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  12. "Palacio Santos (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores)". Intendencia de Montevideo. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  13. "Cuando 80 años es mucho | Intendencia de Montevideo". 2021-10-10. Archived from the original on 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  14. "ADMINISTRACIÓN CENTRAL DE ANCAP - Rafael Lorente Escudero" (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
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