Plaza Independencia

Plaza Independencia is the main square in the capital city of Montevideo, serving as a divider between the Ciudad Vieja and the other more cosmopolitan side of Montevideo. 18 de Julio, the main avenue, begins it's course at the plaza's base going then right down the middle of the city. The plaza and avenue are both lined with shopping malls, farmers markets and restaurants. Plaza Independencia holds within its borders large historical sculptures, a trapezoidal looking edifice of sorts, the "Door to the City" which is where you would enter the Ciudad Vieja, and another enormous building for which we were not able to figure out a purpose. I'm only mentioning it because the detail on this mammoth of a building makes it a wonder of South American Architecture.










As you begin to leave Plaza Independencia in the direction of the Ciudad Vieja you are guaranteed to encounter the Teatro Solis; an old playhouse turned movie theater built in 1857, that burned down in the 1960's. Though lightly repaired, the government ordered an intensive renovation in 1998 which did not end until 2004. It is now a theater, opera house and museum at which they still conduct many performances and guided tours on a regular basis. When in Montevideo, this is a must visit.