- Address: Fortaleza del Cerro Castle, Montevideo 12800, Uruguay
- Author of the project: José del Potco
- Date of construction: 1802 year - lighthouse, 1809-1839. - fortress
- Tower height: 8 m
Fortaleza del Cerro is one of the favorite places to visit tourists in Montevideo . Here you can learn about the history of the city and see it as a hand from the observation deck of the fortress.
Location:
The fortress of Fortaleza del Cerro is located on the hill Cerro Montevideo (Cerro Montevideo) in the capital of Uruguay , at an altitude of about 134 m above sea level.
History of the fortress
Fortaleza del Cerro was built by the hands of the Spaniards who arrived here in order to strengthen the defense of Montevideo and the port of Rio de la Plata. In 1802, only a lighthouse was first built on this place, and then in the first third of the 19th century, by the order of the Governor Francisco Javier de Elio, the fortress itself was built. During its existence, Fortaleza del Cerro has been attacked many times by invaders and participated in hostilities. In the middle of the XIX century, the first lighthouse was completely destroyed during the Civil War in Uruguay, then rebuilt several years later and rebuilt in 1907.
What is interesting about Fortaleza del Cerro?
Fortaleza del Cerro is a white cylindrical tower with a balcony and a lantern on top of the fortress. First of all, it is worth noting that, climbing the stairs to the lighthouse, you can appreciate the amazing panorama of the Rio de la Plata Bay and the whole of Montevideo with the towering skyscraper ANTEL . Since the early 30's. XX century fort is recognized as a national monument of Uruguay . Since 1916, the fortress houses the Military Museum "Jose General Artigas". Visitors can get acquainted with the military-historical exposition of the country.
How to get there?
In order to visit the fortress of Fortaleza del Cerro, you first need to get to the International Airport of Carrasco in Montevideo. There are no direct flights from Russia, you need to fly with a transfer in the cities of Europe or the USA (in this case you will need an American visa). The most budgetary are the flights to Buenos Aires , and from there already to Montevideo.
From the airport of Carrasco to the city center can be reached by bus. They depart from the airport terminal and from the bus station Tres Cruces. The cost of the bus ticket is about 1.5 USD. The second option is to take a taxi from the airport to the destination (about $ 70-80, it is better to pay the local currency - peso, save up to 10%) or rent a car (in this case, refer to the GPS coordinates).