Jewish Heritage
Duration: 4 hours
Tour Code: MVD-005
Explore two centuries of Jewish influence in Montevideo during this scenic and informative orientation tour of the city's monuments, parks and gardens.
Depart the pier for the drive through the Old Town, where Jewish immigrants first settled in the late 19th and early 20th century. Along the way, you will pass by such historic sites as Constitution Square, the Cathedral, Colonial Town Hall and the Solis Theatre. You will also see Jewish sites that include the Hebraica-Maccabi Sports Center and Golda Meir Square.
Additional sites to be seen include Independence Square, which features a monument dedicated to the national hero, General José Gervasio Artigas. Facing the square you will find the former Government House, now the Museum of the Presidents. Your drive will then proceed past 18 de Julio, the main commercial street lined with shops, cafés and office buildings, then on to Congress Palace, a luxurious building that is beloved by Uruguayans. It was constructed between 1908 and 1925 in 52 shades of local marble, and 12 types of wood.
Next, a visit will be made to the main Community Center and one additional synagogue, to be confirmed upon availability and day call. (In case the Community Center is closed, the visit will be replaced with another synagogue). You will then visit the Holocaust Memorial, the only one of its kind in South America. Inaugurated on November 10, 1994 by former Uruguayan President Dr. Luis Alberto Lacalle, the Holocaust Memorial was inspired by Jerusalem's Wailing Wall. The memorial is a wall with a noticeable blemish: a deliberate and symbolic crack that represents the rupture in the existence of European Jewry caused by the Holocaust.
Your tour will conclude with a visit to Batlle y Ordoñez Park, followed by a drive past the Obelisk, Covered Wagon monument, or La Carreta, and Centenary Stadium. Finally, you will pass through the Pocitos residential area and by Jewish schools en route to the pier.
Please note: The order of sites visited may vary. This tour features a moderate amount of walking. Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended. Guests who visit the synagogue should dress appropriately. On Saturdays, the visit to the synagogue will be limited to an outside photo stop.