MONTEVIDEO (CAPITAL)

• Date of Foundation: año 1724

This beautiful garden-city, located over the estuary of the Rio de la Plata, was born thanks to the settlers coming from Buenos Aires and the Canary Islands. Its most outstanding attraction is its 22 kilometers of beaches, with soft white sands, permanently visited by local inhabitants and tourists who appreciate its peace and comfort. The most famous beach is Pocitos, just 15 minutes away from the center of the city, where volleyball and rugby competition are held, plus some colorful kite contests. The most remarkable district is Carrasco, residential and sumptuous, with great mansions and tree-filled streets opposite a magnificent riverside road. Its imposing Carrasco Casino Hotel, with a classic architecture, provides an unmistakable touch of European style to this area of Montevideo. The cultural life of this city is intense and varied: important art museums, such as the National Museum of Visual Arts in Rodo Park or the Gaucho Museum. The visitor will also find the Centennial Stadium, site of the First World Cup in 1930, now considered World Soccer Monument by the FIFA. Among its many popular festivities we may mention the celebration of carnival, with its murgas , full of lively choreographies, filled with rhythm and color, with reminiscences of the music brought by slaves two hundred years ago. Thanks to its excellent hotel industry and first-class service level, many congresses and international events are held here, where the participants and their escorts can also enjoy the many beautiful sightseeing tours and buy different handicrafts, antiques and local products.