Carmelo

Submitted by editor on Tue, 03/23/2010 - 17:29

Carmelo, Uruguay

Carmelo
—  City  —
Carmelo is located in Uruguay
Carmelo
Coordinates: 34°00′0″S 58°17′0″W / 34°S 58.283333°W / -34; -58.283333Coordinates: 34°00′0″S 58°17′0″W / 34°S 58.283333°W / -34; -58.283333
Country  Uruguay
Department Colonia Department
Founded February 12, 1816
Founder José Gervasio Artigas
Population (2004)
 - Total 16,866
Time zone UTC -3
Postal code 70100
Area code(s) +598 4542

Carmelo is a city located in the department of Colonia of western Uruguay. Route 21 passes through the city, joining it with Nueva Palmira to the northwest and Colonia del Sacramento to the southeast. Carmelo is noted for its wineries.

Contents

History

During the beginning of the Conquest of the 16th century, the Spanish founded the Fuerte de San Lázaro (April 7, 1527 - October 1530). In 1611, Hernando Arias de Saavedra, governor of Asuncion, landed cattle near the mouth of the Arroyo de las Vacas. The present city was founded by José Gervasio Artigas on 12 February 1816. It took the official status of "city" on 17 August 1920 by decree Ley No. 7.257. It is the only city founded personally by the Uruguayan national hero, and it still holds this office proudly.

Carmelo has a swing bridge, the Puerte Giratorio de Carmelo, over the Arroyo de las Vacas, which opened on May 1, 1912.

Population

In 2004, Carmelo had a population of 16,866.

Year Population
1963 12.680
1975 13.707
1985 14.278
1996 16.658
2004 16,866

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay

Landmarks

View of Carmelo's beach

There are two squares in the city. The one is Plaza Artigas, with a monument to the foundation of the city, the church Templo Histórico del Carmen and the city museum and archive. The other, more central square is the commercial centre of the city. The main commercial street is 19 de Avril, which at its south ends at a bridge, after which it becomes Route 21 which joins it with Colonia del Sacramento and also forks towards other destinations.

Hotel Casino de Carmelo

The river Arroyo de las Vacas runs along the east and south part of the city. This river serves as a port for the town. On its north bank there is the Puerto Carmelo-Tigre, where small catamaran boats carry passengers across the Río de la Plata to Argentina. A bridge joins the north part of the city with its small southern part, where another port along the southern banks of the river accommodates private boats and the Yacht Club Carmelo. In the same part, along the coast there is beach Playa Seré, a park, a small zoological garden and a Casino Hotel.

Symbols of Carmelo

Flag of Carmelo
Seal of Carmelo
Wines of Carmelo

The area around the city

Between Nueva Palmira and Carmelo there is a streach along the Río Uruguay of great tourist importance. Points of interest in this area are Punta Gorda, Zagarzazú and Colonia Estrella. In Zagarzazú there is a small airport and a luxury hotel, the Four Seasons Carmelo Hotel, with an important golf course.

Just northwest of Carmelo is Juncal Island which once held a notorious prison.

Notable people

  • Juan Francisco Aragone, Archbishop of Montevideo
  • Gonzalo Pérez Iribarren, mathematician
  • Juan Carlos Mareco, actor
  • Atilio François, former cyclist

  1. ^ a b Burford, Tim (2010). Uruguay. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 257. ISBN 9781841623160. http://books.google.com/books?id=9eZ9-u6OqKwC&pg=PA257. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
  2. ^ Pintos, Aníbal Barrios (2000). Historia de los pueblos orientales: sus orígenes, procesos fundacionales, sus primeros años. Academia Nacional de Letras. http://books.google.com/books?id=iDcsAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
  3. ^ "2004 Census of Colonia department" (XLS). INE. 2004. http://www.ine.gub.uy/fase1new/Colonia/Cuadro7_05.XLS. Retrieved 27 June 2011. 
  4. ^ "1963–1996 Statistics / C" (DOC). Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay. 2004. http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/toponimico/TOPOletraC.doc. Retrieved 27 June 2011. 
  5. ^ Luongo, Michael; O'Malley, Charlie; Pashby, Christie (13 July 2007). Frommer's Argentina. Frommer's. pp. 175–. ISBN 9780470124796. http://books.google.com/books?id=n-SVhaXTJawC&pg=PA175. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
  6. ^ Bernhardson, Wayne (30 April 1996). Argentina, Uruguay & Paraguay: a Lonely Planet travel survival kit. Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 9780864423368. http://books.google.com/books?id=U5JjaSt5NZQC. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 


Escudo del Departamento de Colonia.svg    Coast of Colonia    Flag of Uruguay.svg
Resorts
and   
Landforms

Brisas del Plata  • Santa Regina (Playa Robert)  • Los Pinos - Playa Fomento (Britopolis, Blanca Arena)  • (Pta del Rosario, Boca del Rosario, Playa Charrua)  • Juan Lacaze  • Artilleros (Pta Artilleros, Playa Artilleros) - Santa Ana (Playa Santa Ana) - El Ensueño (Puerto Platero)  • Riachuelo (Playa & Pta del Islote, Playa El Calabrés)  • Colonia del Sacramento (Puerto de Colonia, Barrio Historico, Muelle del Yates, Playa de Colonia, Playa Real de San Carlos)  • (Parque Anchorea, Barra de San Juan, Pta Francesca, Pta Pereira)  • Puerto Inglés (Pta & Puerto Conchillas)  • (Pta Martin Chico, Pta Dorado)  • Carmelo (Pta Piedras, Playa Seré, Playa Coralito)  • Zagarzazú (Playa Zagarzazú, Puerto Camacho)  • Nueva Palmira (Pta Gorda, Puerto de N.Palmira, Playa de los Argentinos, Playa Higuerita, Playa Eolo, Playa Corbacho, Playa Los Vascos, Balneario Brisas del Uruguay)
Glossary : Balneario = Resort , Barra = Mouth (of river) , Barrio = Neighbourhood , Playa = Beach , Puerto = Port , Punta (or Pta) = Point, Small Peninsula
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