Plaza Independencia

The Independence Square, in Montevideo

The Plaza Independencia is the most emblematic square of Montevideo, a link between the old town and the modern city, dominated by the mausoleum of the national hero Artigas. The Montevideo audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this major square, vestige of the former Spanish fortress, where the gate of the citadel and the Palacio Salvo still stand.

The threshold between the ciudad vieja and the modern city

Here you are at the entrance of the old town, on the Plaza Independencia, the Independence Square. It is THE emblematic square of Montevideo, and it gathers a great number of important elements; let us calmly go around it. You see in front of you the former gate of the citadel, that recalls that what is called the ciudad vieja, the old historic centre, was originally a Spanish fortress protected by a fortified enclosure. In 1877, because of the growth of the town, it was decided to demolish the ramparts to link the old centre to the new districts, and this square imposed itself as the point of articulation between the two. In the centre stands the great equestrian statue of José Gervasio Artigas, the national hero, considered as the father of Uruguayan independence, under which is his underground mausoleum, permanently guarded, a place of memory and contemplation for a whole country. All around, the square is surrounded by major buildings: the Palacio Salvo, Art Deco skyscraper emblematic of the capital, the Estévez palace, former seat of the government, the Solís theatre nearby, and numerous official buildings. Vast, solemn and lined with palm trees, the square is the civic and symbolic heart of Montevideo, where ceremonies, demonstrations and national celebrations take place. An emblematic square and a heart of the capital, the Independence Square is a fine stop of the discovery of Montevideo.

What to see

Here you discover the most emblematic square of Montevideo, a link between the ciudad vieja and the modern city born from the demolition of the ramparts in 1877; you see the former gate of the citadel, the great equestrian statue of Artigas, national hero, and his underground mausoleum, as well as the Art Deco Palacio Salvo and the Estévez palace. The Independence Square is the heart of Montevideo. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Independence Square lies between the ciudad vieja and the avenue 18 de Julio, in the heart of Montevideo, reachable on foot. It is a public square freely accessible; the Artigas mausoleum follows its own visit hours, which vary, and is discovered with respect. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What do you see on the Independence Square of Montevideo?

The former gate of the Spanish citadel, the great equestrian statue of Artigas, national hero and father of independence, under which rests his underground mausoleum, as well as the Art Deco Palacio Salvo and the Estévez palace; born from the demolition of the ramparts in 1877, it is the emblematic square of the town, a link between the ciudad vieja and the modern city.

Where is the Independence Square in Montevideo?

Between the ciudad vieja and the avenue 18 de Julio, in the heart of Montevideo, in Uruguay.