Start directly at the pier and climb aboard a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with excellent local guides knowledgeable about the history and curiosities of Montevideo. The eclectic city of Montevideo is also the capital of Uruguay and the 8th city in the 2013 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index for Latin America.
Your first stop is the historic Old City neighborhood, where you will see beautiful colonial-era buildings. The old part of the city is occupied by Spanish military fortifications whose stone walls define the boundaries of the fortified city of San Felipe and Santiago by the guarded fortress called Ciudadela. We will also see the Solis Theater, the Cabildo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Torres Garcia Museum and other museums. There are also many galleries, cafes and antique stores.
Afterwards, we will go to Plaza Independencia, in the center of the city. In this square we will see the statue and mausoleum of General Artigas, Uruguay's national hero, as well as the presidential offices, the Estevez Palace, the Salvo Palace and the Citadel Gate. Further on, we will see the Parliament Palace, inaugurated in 1925. Its symbolism and neoclassical architectural style represent the democratic values of the country.
From the Parliament, we will take a tour of the Montevideo Agricultural Market (MAM), one of the last markets built in iron in Montevideo. What began as a humble fruit and vegetable stand in 1913 has become a commercial center, occupying an entire block and offering a wide variety of food, drinks and typical items. Today there are still vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2006, the building was renovated and contributed to the revitalization of the entire neighborhood.
After the introduction to the history of Montevideo, we will head to the Obelisco De Los Constituyentes. This bronze and granite obelisk was inaugurated in 1938 as a tribute to the drafters of the nation's first constitution, dating back to 1830. The sculptor of this work of art is the famous José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín.
We will continue to Batlle Park, where you can stroll through the largest public park and green space in the city. Afterwards, we will stop at the monument to La Carreta, created in 1934 by José Belloni. Next to the monument we will also see the famous Centenario soccer stadium, inaugurated in 1930 for the World Cup, in which Uruguay was the winner. On July 18, 1983 it was declared a World Football Historical Monument by FIFA, making it the only building of its kind in the world.
Afterwards, we will pass by the beautiful sands of Pocitos beach and stop for a picture next to the Montevideo sign. Admire the picturesque view from here as you gaze out over the bay of Pocitos and finish the tour in the Punta Carretas neighborhood with a stop at the Lighthouse.