MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

Montevideo is an electric mix of architectural influence with some amazing buildings that date back to more prosperous times. The city is an open-air exhibition of monuments and sculptures, as well as museums displaying the wonderful work of Uruguayan artists.

Montevideo is an electric mix of architectural influence with some amazing buildings that date back to more prosperous times. The city is an open-air exhibition of monuments and sculptures, as well as museums displaying the wonderful work of Uruguayan artists. The first stop on our tour is at Constitution Square, where we find the best-preserved buildings from the Spanish colonial period. These include the Town Hall, the Spanish neo-classical Cathedral, and also examples of the Italian influence in architecture such as the Uruguay Club and the sculptural water fountain of Gianni Ferrari. A short walk through a pedestrian street brings us to the Joaquin Torres Garcia Museum, which displays the work of Uruguay’s most influential artist (1874-1949). Not only did he create an art school, Constructive Universalism, but also his work is the highest priced among Uruguayan artists in the world’s most important art auctions. By the end of the 19th century, while living in Barcelona, he had become, along with Pablo Picasso, part of the bohemian milieu of the café Els Quatre Gats. In 1903, Torres Garcia assisted Antoni Gaudi with stained-glass windows for the cathedral of Palma de Mallorca and later with the windows for the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. We will make a photo stop at the Solis Theatre which first opened its doors on the 25th August 1856. Strategically located inside the historical and cultural area, it is the greatest reference to all scenic arts in Uruguay. Our next visit is to the Blanes Museum, which was established in 1930 on the 100th anniversary of the painter (1830-1901). He captured the human and geographic landscapes of the recently established independent site and produced some of the visual icons that are embeded in the collective memory of the country. The museum is located in a beautiful 19th century mansion where the works of other famous Uruguayan artists such as Pedro Figari and Rafel Barradas are also displayed. We also visit the Visual Arts Museum, the most comprehensive collection of Uruguayan artists since 1850. (An extended visit to the Blanes Museum may replace the Visual Arts Museum in the event of closure). This tour involves a considerable amount of walking, including many steps (there are no lifts in these museums); it is therefore unsuitable for passengers with limited mobility or wheelchairs.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 SOUTH AMERICA CRUISE