Minas - Photos: Pablo Etchevers The City of Minas is the capital of the Department of Lavalleja and it lies in the Southeast of Uruguay, exactly 120 kilometers away from Montevideo. Surrounded by the Minas and Carapé Mountain Ranges and by the beautiful Santa Lucía River, the city offers varied proposals for visitors of all ages and tastes. Namely, tours around the historical shell and outdoor excursions that foster a harmonic contact with nature.
Minas –Spanish word for “mines”- owes its name to the mineral richness in its soil. Its first dwellers were some Welsh families who settled down lured by the promising prosperity of the area, also very propitious for cattle-raising.
Its climate is humid and its scenery features countless delightful panoramic sights, both during the day and at night, from the heights that surround the entire city.
While touring around Minas, visitors come across Libertad Square, whose gardens and palm trees catch the eye of locals as well as visitors who walk about its magnitude for the first time. An enormous water fountain and a monument in honor of General Juan Antonio Lavalleja contribute their color. The House of Culture is the historical site where Lavalleja was born. Today, it houses the local museum, which displays various historical moments of the city along with the tasks of other great men devoted to Art. The cathedral and its simple façade are another alternative to see the architecture of Minas.
For lovers of outdoor activities, a tour around Mount Ventura is an excellent choice to start enjoying natural attractions away from the city. When reaching the top, visitors come across the greatest monument raised in honor of Uruguayan hero José Artigas. Due to their proximity, Cerro Pan de Azúcar (Mount Sugar Loaf) and the seaside City of Piriápolis are two destinations worth visiting which represent the possibility of combining the mountains and the sea.
