Old Town - Walking Tour
Duration: 3 1/2 hours
Tour Code: mvd-001
Price:
$99.00 per person
Free
Experience the exquisite beauty of Montevideo's splendid architecture and historic sites during this scenic and memorable walking tour through the Old Town.
Depart the pier for the brief transfer to the Old Town. Upon arrival, you will join your guide for a 2.5-hour walking tour through the Old Town's narrow streets. Along the way, you will take in an eclectic blend of architecture and arts dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. After passing by the Museo de Artes Decorativas, a stop will be made for a guided tour inside the Taranco Palace (closed Mondays). Prestigious French architects Charles Louis Girault and Jules Chifflot designed this palatial home, which belongs to the wealthy Taranco family. It features a charming display of paintings, sculptures, Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture, Baccarat crystal, and Sevres porcelain.
Your walking tour will continue on with a visit to the Plaza Zabala. The only fenced square in town, this late-19th-century plaza is home to a monument dedicated to Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, the city's founder. From here, you will walk past the former home of General Fructuoso Rivera, Uruguay's first president. Today, this well-preserved, early-19th-century building houses the Museum of National History.
Next, a stop will be made at Constitution Square to browse through the stalls of the flea market, and view the best-preserved buildings from the Spanish-Colonial period. You will see the former Town Hall, or Cabildo, built in 1804, and the Spanish Neoclassical-styled Cathedral, built in 1790. You will also see stunning examples of Italian architecture that include the Uruguay Club, built by Luigi Andreoni in 1884, and a water fountain sculpted by Gianni Ferrari in 1871. You will then take a walking tour inside the Solis Theater. Built in 1842 and recently-restored to its original grandeur, this impressive building now serves as the hub of Montevideo's artistic scene.
Your tour will conclude with a visit to Independence Square, where you will see the former Presidential Palace, built in 1874, and Salvo Palace, built in 1922.
Following your visit, you will be transferred back to the pier.
Please note: This tour involves a considerable amount of walking, and is not recommended for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilize a wheelchair. The order of sites and museums visited may vary depending upon opening times.