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Montevideo was founded between 1726 and 1730 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala with 13 families from the Canary Islands.

Today it is a cosmopolitan capital city, with over 44% of the country's population. It is a dynamic, bustling city and home of Mercosur, making it the Brussels of South America.

Located on the estuary of the River Plate and facing the Atlantic ocean, there are 20 kilometers of small beaches, creeks and rocky points.   Nine sandy beaches stretch along almost the whole of the metropolitan waterfront, bordered by the "Rambla Nacional Unidas" roadway.  Furthermost away from the city center and yet still part of the greater city is the fashionable Carrasco suburb with an excellent selection of fine restaurants and shops.

The heart of the old city of Montevideo, once surrounded by fortifications which have long since disappeared, is Constitution Square with the Cathedral (1790-1804) on one side and the historic Cabildo (1808) opposite it.  The city's greatest square is Independence Square, dominated by the monument and Mausoleum of the national hero, Artigas.

Any visit to Montevideo must save time to the old port area. The Central Market by the docks is similar in structure to the old European markets and hosts a 24 hour pageant. Street musicians, artisans and painters peddle their wares. There are multiple small "parrilladas" (barbecue restaurants) specializing in beef, pork, seafood and side dishes of pimentos (grilled peppers) and mozzarella.  Without a doubt, lunch at the port market is one experience you will not want to miss!

There are good museums in Montevideo and you can easily spend time shopping for some of South America's best leather at reasonable prices.

By night you can dine traditionally or on international fare and top the night off with a visit to the Casino.