Palacio Municipal (Montevideo)

Palacio Municipal (City Hall) is the seat of the local government agency of the Municipality of Montevideo, Uruguay. Located on the main avenue of the city, 18 de Julio Avenue, in barrio Centro, it was designed by Uruguayan architect Mauricio Cravotto.

Palacio Municipal
General information
TypeCity administrative building
Address18 de Julio Avenue
Town or cityCentro, Montevideo
CountryUruguay
Coordinates34°54′20″S 56°11′3″W
Groundbreaking1935
Completed1941
InauguratedJuly 16, 1941
Height78 metres
Design and construction
ArchitectMauricio Cravotto

Construction began in 1935 and inaugurated on July 16, 1941, although the actual building differs from the original 1929 Cravotto model;[1] his main tower measured 114m, which would have become the tallest building in the city, but for financial reasons rose to only 78m, remaining in second place after the Palacio Salvo. It also lacked the brick siding. The side wings, the underground concourse and garage were built later, giving the building its current appearance. While not the tallest building in Montevideo, its location on the Avenida 18 de Julio, built on the crest of a ridge or long hill, make the building look more impressive. The area of the building had begun development from at least 1867.[2]

Replica of Michelangelo's David

In front of the main entrance is an impressive bronze replica of David of Michelangelo. The atrium of the building hosts exhibitions of art, craft and varied cultural expressions, while on the right side there is a copy of the statue of Nike of Samothrace. The west wing of the building hosts the Museum of History of Art. The Municipal centre of Photography includes the Photographic Archive of Montevideo, which is a service where the public can acquire copies from the material of the archive.[3] On the back side of the building, there is an external elevator taking the public to floor 22 of the building where there is a city observatory. Also on the back of the building is the Direccion de Necropolis which supervises the cemeteries of the city.

References
  1. Bethell, Leslie (1998). A cultural history of Latin America: literature, music, and the visual arts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Cambridge University Press. p. 387. ISBN 978-0-521-62626-2. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  2. Burford, Tim (2010). Uruguay. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-84162-316-0. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  3. "Venta de Fotografías de la Ciudad y Material del Archivo Fotográfico de Montevideo", IMM Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine
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