must-visit in MontevideoSquare & Landmark

Plaza Independencia

📍 Plaza Independencia, Centro / Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo, Uruguay

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4.3/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: Uruguay, Montevideo
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: 1-1.5 hours including the mausoleum and surrounding buildings
Opening Hours: The square is open around the clock; the Artigas mausoleum is usually open by day, 10:00-18:00, and free
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Both the square and the Artigas mausoleum are free; an honour guard keeps watch, so stay quiet inside the mausoleum
Address: Plaza Independencia, Centro / Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo, Uruguay
Coordinates: -34.9061, -56.1989

Introduction

Plaza Independencia is Montevideo's civic heart and historic axis, laid out in 1837 by Italian architect Carlo Zucchi in the plan for the Ciudad Nueva, reportedly inspired by Paris's Rue de Rivoli. It sits exactly on the seam between the Ciudad Vieja and Centro, its pavement marked with the 'one-peso coin' of the city's Km 0. At the centre rises the 1923 Artigas monument: a 17-metre bronze equestrian statue on a granite base flanked by allegories of Law, Liberty, Work and Culture. Directly below, the founding father's mausoleum opened on 19 June 1977 - Artigas's birthday and a national holiday - free to enter down twin granite staircases to the chamber holding Artigas, his mother and his sister, watched by an honour guard from the Cuerpo de Blandengues, his first regiment; the changing of the guard is an attraction in itself. In the early 1900s French landscape architect Carlos Thays laid out four French parterres and rows of palms standing for the Thirty-Three Orientals of 1825. Each side of the square carries a chapter of national history: west, the last citadel gateway and the start of Peatonal Sarandi; east, the 1928 Palacio Salvo, briefly South America's tallest building, and the head of Avenida 18 de Julio; south, the Executive Tower and Estevez Palace; and on the southwest corner the 1856 Solis Theatre. Since 2010 the presidential sash has been handed over here.

✨ Highlights

The Artigas Equestrian Statue

A 17-metre bronze statue unveiled in 1923 on a granite base, flanked by allegories of Law, Liberty, Work and Culture.

The Founding Father's Mausoleum

Opened on 19 June 1977, Artigas's birthday and a national holiday; free to enter down twin staircases, with the honour guard's changing of the guard as a fixed spectacle.

The Old City Gate

West stands the lone surviving stone arch of the citadel; stepping through it lands you on Peatonal Sarandi, the old town's classic frame.

Palacio Salvo

On the east side, the 1928 eclectic tower was briefly South America's tallest building and its clock tower still guides the city.

Km 0 and a French Garden

The city's zero-mile marker is set in the pavement; Thays laid out four French parterres and palms standing for the Thirty-Three Orientals.

Where Presidents Take the Sash

South stand the Executive Tower and Estevez Palace; since 2010 the presidential sash has been handed over on this square.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：1-1.5 hours: 30 minutes on the square, 20 in the mausoleum and the rest for building exteriors; add 20 minutes if you want the changing of the guard

→Best time：Late afternoon gives the best light and the busiest street life; 19 June and 25 August bring national events but heavy crowds

→Worth it?：Yes - this is Montevideo's first stop and nearly every old-town route starts here; if you know Latin American squares well, 20 minutes for the exterior is enough

→Watch out：Downtown crowds mean watching your belongings; some blocks at the square's edges turn seedy after dark, so leave before nightfall. Palacio Salvo interior tours need booking and often sell out

→Combine with：West through the citadel gate into the old town (Peatonal Sarandi, Plaza Matriz, the cathedral, Solis Theatre), east along 18 de Julio for shops and cafes

→Opening Hours：The square is open around the clock; the Artigas mausoleum is usually open by day, 10:00-18:00, and free

→Transportation：Walkable in old town, near bus terminal

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Both the square and the Artigas mausoleum are free; an honour guard keeps watch, so stay quiet inside the mausoleum

💡 Tips

• Frame Sarandi street through the citadel gate arch - the classic old-town photograph.

• The mausoleum descent is free; time your visit for the honour guard's changing of the guard.

• Late afternoon brings the best light and the liveliest street atmosphere.

• 19 June and 25 August hold big national ceremonies - crowded but ceremonial.

• Palacio Salvo interior tours must be booked online; they are rarely available on the spot.

• Leave the blocks east and north of the square before dark and keep valuables in front pockets.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Plaza Independencia?

The square is open around the clock; the Artigas mausoleum is usually open by day, 10:00-18:00, and free

How much is the admission for Plaza Independencia?

Adult: Free; Both the square and the Artigas mausoleum are free; an honour guard keeps watch, so stay quiet inside the mausoleum

Any practical tips for visiting Plaza Independencia?

Frame Sarandi street through the citadel gate arch - the classic old-town photograph. The mausoleum descent is free; time your visit for the honour guard's changing of the guard.

How long should I spend at Plaza Independencia?

A typical visit takes 1-1.5 hours including the mausoleum and surrounding buildings.

Mausoleum hours and state ceremonies follow the Montevideo city government and official tourism channels; large events take over the square on national holidays such as 25 August and 19 June. Compiled October 2026.