Outings and excursions · Maldonado
Historic Maldonado: the Dragoons' Barracks, the Watchtower and the Cathedral
Photos: Mx. Granger / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
A few kilometres from Punta del Este, the city founded in the 18th century to guard the coast keeps its colonial buildings.
San Fernando de Maldonado was founded around 1755 by the governor of Montevideo, José Joaquín de Viana, to stop possible Portuguese advances. That is why its first buildings were military, and many still stand a few minutes from Punta del Este.
Dragoons' Barracks
Construction began in 1771, with stone and clay walls. Today it houses a museum of River Plate art, including works by Uruguayan sculptors and painters such as José Belloni.
Watchtower
Built in 1800 and about 13 metres tall, it was used to watch the Río de la Plata and report any ship entering the estuary.
Cathedral of San Fernando
Neoclassical in style, it was begun in 1801, halted by the British invasions of 1806 and only inaugurated in 1895.
Tips
- The historic centre can be explored on foot in a morning.
- Museum hours: check before you go.
- A good plan for a cloudy day in Punta del Este.
