Uruguay: Montevideo
Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay, and nearly a third of the entire country’s population lives here. The oldest part of town offers a grid of colonial and neo-classical architecture for which Montevideo is actually famous. The Plaza Independencia is dominated by a massive Palacio Salvo. Also here is the city gate of Puerta de la Ciudadela, mausoleum of Jose Artigas (one of the country’s founders), Estevez Palace, and 33 palms for those who fought in the Independence War. Roaming around the city, you can also see the Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza Constitucion, Plaza Zabala, and plenty of ornate neo-classical facades all over the small downtown. In fact, Montevideo is on the tentative UNESCO World Heritage list for its architecture.
