Uruguay is the country with the best quality of life in South America. Its fewer than four million inhabitants are concentrated mostly in Montevideo, a metropolis that breathes culture in its most diverse aspects: it’s present in history, cuisine, arts, and in several other manifestations.
The town is full of places to visit. There’s a wide range of museums for those interested in knowing more about the southern region of South America. The Museo de la Casa de Gobierno, for instance, was the former Uruguayan seat of power, and nowadays holds the history of local politics. . Many historical documents are kept there, as well as furniture, adornments, and other artifacts of great historical value.
For lovers of visual arts, the best visit is to the Museo Torres Garcia, in Ciudad Vieja (Old City). It holds the works of Joaquin Torres Garcia, one of Uruguay’s most popular painters. His works are part of a national modernistic movement with a strong cubist influence, and which, in some ways, helps to express the feeling of life in a city such as Montevideo, which appears as a recurrent subject in the works.
The region’s culture, however, is not restricted to Spanish post-colonization. The region where the south of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay meet was also home to other pre-Colombian peoples. Their marks were left in the form of craft work that shows a different culture. Many of these artifacts are found in the Museo de Arte Precolombino e Indigena, in Ciudade Vieja. It’s an amazing tour, especially since it deals with little known South American cultures.
Finally, as to be expected, the Museo de Futebol, in the Centenario Stadium, holds one of the richest collections in South America about the game. The sport is one of the country’s main passions, and its importance with regard to Uruguayan culture is huge. This is more than clear in this exhibition, which holds a narrative of historic moments in the history of the clubs and the national team: uniforms, balls, and many other items important to Uruguayan football.
In short, Montevideo is a city rich in culture, history and leisure. It holds the roots of a small country and of a unique region in South America that preserves its cultural traditions, customs and passions with class and refinement.
