The bronze monument
On a stone base.
Lberretta88 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Richard aristegui — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lucia Giambiaggi — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cornelius — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Richard aristegui — CC BY-SA 3.0
Plaza Artigas is the main square of Salto, Uruguay's second largest city, with 114,084 people in 2023. At its centre stands a monument to national hero José Artigas on horseback, with big trees and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist around it, making it a natural start for any tour of this northwestern city. The square was first known as Plaza Nueva, then Plaza 18 de Julio, and it saw varied events including bullfights and ring races. It was later adorned with palms, and a fountain crowned by a monument called «Beauty and the Beast» was installed. The city's beginnings go back to 8 November 1756, when José Joaquín de Viana built barracks for his army here during the Guaraní War. The bronze monument rises on a high stone base, with smaller statues around it forming a sculptural group of figures such as the farmer, the citizen and the gaucho. Paths run among flowers, grass and palms, and the white twin-towered front of the cathedral shows at one edge. The trees change colour greatly in autumn and look lovely just before sunset. The square is public and open in the city centre, easy to reach on foot. It makes a pleasant place to sit in the evening. Respect the neighbouring cathedral as a place of worship, with modest dress and quiet, if you go in. Do not climb the monument's base. Salto's summers are hot, so bring a hat and water and come in the morning or late in the day.
On a stone base.
Twin towers at the edge.
Flowers and palms.
Central Salto, northwest Uruguay
José Artigas, Uruguay's national hero.
Morning or just before sunset, as summers are hot.