Plaza Independencia

This grand square marks the divide between the old walled city and the newer districts of Montevideo and serves as the symbolic centre of the capital. At its heart stands the equestrian statue of Artigas above his underground mausoleum, framed by the Palacio Salvo and the Solís theatre nearby. Once part of the colonial citadel, of which a single gate survives, the plaza is ringed by government and cultural buildings. It hosts national ceremonies and everyday city life alike.