Uruguay

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Entry posted by korver · August 10, 2020

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true earth

Uruguay is a country of 3.5 million known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast. The second smallest country on the continent, Uruguay has long been overshadowed by it's more well known neighbors of Brazil and Argentina - but the country is home to some of the region's best kept secrets. From beautiful inland wineyards, pristine white sand beaches, distinctive colonial architecture, and plenty of impressive sights dotting it's historical capital city of Montevideo - it's a country that you don't want to miss out on. In today's update, let's experience the best of what Uruguay has to offer.

Our trip to Uruguay begins with a trip to the wine country and the small town of Garzón. This historical rural village is home to some of the world's best vineyards and the award winning Bodega Garzón boutique winery and restaurant, all which have become popular destinations over the years.

Uruguay's coastlines are quite beautiful - and one of the best places to explore the country's south Atlantic shoreline is at Cabo Polonio. Cabo Polonio is a small beachside hamlet located on the eastern coast of Uruguay in the Rocha Department, and over the years has gained national park status as one of the country's most beautiful sights. Cabo Polonio has no roads leading to it and is located about 7 km from the main highway - accessible only by walking through the dunes or by 4x4 vehicles, it's quite the trek to reach it but you'll be rewarded with some truly incredible views once you're there.

For the next couple of sights, we're taking a trip back into Uruguay's past with a few historical postcards from the early 1900s, beginning with Piriápolis' Piria Castle. Completed in 1897, this unmistakable castle used to be one of the country's most prized landmarks - perched on a hilltop, it proudly looked over the seaside town founded by the castle’s owner, Francisco Piria. Over the years however, it's suffered from a lack of maintenance and has started to become run down - hopefully recent restorations in the talks will bring it back to former glory.

Our next sight takes us to Colonia del Sacramento - a city in southwestern Uruguay, across the Río de La Plata with a rich past. It's known for its cobblestoned Barrio Histórico, lined with buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement - and although it's historical district today still has many remnants from the past (and even some old cars lining the streets to prove it), back in it's heyday of the early 1900s it was truly the sight to see.

Our journey now takes us into Montevideo - the country's vibrant capital city. Montevideo was founded in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala to counteract the Portuguese advance into the area from Brazil. During its early years, Montevideo was mostly a Spanish garrison town - and over the centuries many impressive landmarks were built like the Palacio Legaslativo. Construction started in 1908 and ended in 1925 - and once complete, it was a truly impressive governmental building.

We move ahead into modern day with a look over the country's capital city of Montevideo. The city's sprawl is quite impressive from above.

Our look at Uruguay concludes with a trip to Playa Pocitos. This popular city beach has beautiful white sands and is known for its lively boardwalk, sweeping views & beachfront activities.