Cerro de Montevideo & Fortaleza General Artigas
Fortaleza del Cerro
The hill that lent its name to the city across the bay. A Spanish fortress and lighthouse from 1811 at the summit offer views over the harbor and the whole city.
Cerro de Montevideo rises about 134 meters on the western shore of the bay and is one of the origins of the city's name. At the summit, the General Artigas Fortress was built by the Spanish between 1809 and 1811 and is one of the last colonial-era defensive works. It now houses a military museum displaying weapons, uniforms and historical artifacts, and there is a lighthouse on the ramparts. From here you can look out over the bay, the harbor and the skyline of the old town. Admission is inexpensive, and the site is usually closed on Mondays. The Cerro neighborhood at the foot of the hill has moderate safety, so it's best to take a taxi straight to the summit and back.
Opening hours
Approx. Wed–Sun 10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Museo del Carnaval
- Mercado del Puerto
- Palacio Taranco
- Museo Gurvich
- Catedral Metropolitana de Montevideo
- Ciudad Vieja
- Museo Andes 1972
- Museo Torres García