Fortaleza del Cerro
Fortaleza del Cerro, also known as Fortaleza General Artigas, is a fortress situated in Montevideo, Uruguay overlooking the Bay of Montevideo. It belongs to the barrio of Casabó, at the west of Villa del Cerro. It holds a dominant position on the highest hill of the department of Montevideo (popularly known as Cerro de Montevideo with its altitude of 134 meters above sea level the sea, on the opposite side of the bay.[2] Its function was to defend the population of Montevideo and its port, on the río de la Plata. Governor Francisco Javier de Elío ordered construction in 1809 and it was completed in 1839;[2] this was the last Spanish fort built in Uruguay. It has housed the Military Museum since 1916.
 The fortress on the Cerro de Montevideo | |
  Uruguay | |
| |
| Location | Cerro Montevideo Uruguay |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34.888479°S 56.259928°W |
| Year first constructed | 1802 |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern atop a fortress |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Tower height | 8 metres (26 ft) |
| Focal height | 148 metres (486 ft) |
| Range | 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | G0702 |
| NGA number | 19184 |
| ARLHS number | URU-009 |
| Uruguay number | UY-424[1] |
History
Monument and Sight
It has been a National Monument since 1931[3] and has housed a military museum since 1916.[2] Today it is a well-known attraction for tourists visiting Montevideo.
References
- Lighthouses of Uruguay The Public's Library and Digital Archive
- "CERRO DE MONTEVIDEO". Montevideo.com. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- "Cerro - Municipio A". Intendencia de Montevideo. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
External links
- www.uruguaytotal.com/virtual/cerro (Spanish)
- www.montevideo.com (Spanish)
- Revista Raíces - Historia de la Fortaleza del Cerro (Spanish)