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Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo

Ciudad Vieja
Historic City Centre
Views of the Old City
Street map of Ciudad Vieja
Street map of Ciudad Vieja
Location of Ciudad Vieja in Montevideo
Location of Ciudad Vieja in Montevideo
Coordinates: 34°54′24″S 56°12′30″W / 34.90667°S 56.20833°W / -34.90667; -56.20833
Country Uruguay
DepartmentMontevideo Department
CityMontevideo

Ciudad Vieja (Spanish pronunciation: [sjuˈðað ˈβjexa], Old City) is a barrio (neighbourhood or district) of Montevideo, Uruguay. Located in a peninsula at the mouth of the Bay of Montevideo, it is the city's historic district. It was founded in 1724 as a walled city by the Spanish Empire. Following Uruguay’s independence, it became a district of the expanding city, which quickly grew beyond the original fortress, later dismantled.[1]

As one of the city's central districts, it forms part of its central business district alongside Centro and Cordón. It serves as a key office district, housing several commercial banks and other financial institutions, government buildings, as well as museums, cultural venues, theaters and art galleries.[2] The district also features a high concentration of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Neoclassical buildings.[3]

History

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During the colonial period, Montevideo functioned as a fortified city, in the area that is today known as the Ciudad Vieja.[4] Until 1829, it was enclosed by a wall built for defensive purposes, intended to protect it from possible invasions. Following the dismantling of the wall, only one section was preserved: the main gateway to the Citadel, which remains in place and serves as a historical landmark.[5]

Some present-day street names reflect the existence of the old fortifications, such as Ciudadela (citadel) or Brecha (breach). The latter refers to the opening made in the wall by British forces during the 1807 invasion, which enabled their temporary occupation of the city before they were eventually repelled.[6]

From the late 19th century onward, numerous buildings were constructed in European architectural styles such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Neoclassicism, initially intended as residences for the upper class.[7] Over time, some of these buildings were repurposed to house corporate offices, financial institutions, and government agencies.[8]

In the 1970s, the Mercado del Puerto —once a wholesale market near the city's port— was transformed into a popular tourist destination centered around Uruguayan cuisine, making the port area increasingly attractive to visitors.[9] Later, the main street, Peatonal Sarandí was turned into a pedestrian walkway, which further boosted the area’s commercial and tourist appeal.[10] In 2005, the walkway was extended beyond Constitution Square.[11]

Ciudad Vieja has elegant buildings from the colonial era and the first decades of independence. The Cabildo (built between 1804 and 1812), the Solís Theatre, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and several museums, like the Museo Torres García[12] are among the most impressive ones. Also, several design shops and recycled loft floors flourish in the streets near the port.

Landmarks

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Places of worship

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  • The Gateway of Ciudadela, was the entrance to the fortress of Montevideo
    The Gateway of Ciudadela, was the entrance to the fortress of Montevideo
  • Street in the Ciudad Vieja
    Street in the Ciudad Vieja

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ciudad Vieja | Municipio B". municipiob.montevideo.gub.uy. Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  2. ^ "La Ciudad Vieja: hermoso testimonio del pasado". EL PAIS. 2004-07-05. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  3. ^ "La capital del estilo Art Decó". EL PAIS. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  4. ^ "Ciudad Vieja | Municipio B". municipiob.montevideo.gub.uy. Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  5. ^ "280 años de la construcción de la Ciudadela de Montevideo | La Mañana" (in Spanish). 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  6. ^ "Obra pone al descubierto 15 metros de la vieja muralla en Calle Brecha". EL PAIS. 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  7. ^ "Recuperemos nuestra hermosa Ciudad Vieja". EL PAIS. 2004-09-20. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  8. ^ "Con las mudanzas de Bevsa y Citi, la Ciudad Vieja se continúa desangrando como histórico corazón de la actividad financiera". Búsqueda (in Spanish). 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  9. ^ "Submundo". la diaria (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-05-18. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  10. ^ "Si el tiempo acompaña la nueva peatonal Sarandí quedará inaugurada el 4 de julio". LARED21 (in Spanish). 2005-06-24. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  11. ^ "Conocé la renovada peatonal Pérez Castellano | Intendencia de Montevideo". 2021-06-09. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  12. ^ Torres Garcia Museum
  13. ^ Jewish Tourism in Uruguay - Temples

Bibliography

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