Another interesting historical object is the Estévez Palace built in 1873. The luxurious palace originally belonged to Francisco Esteves, but by the end of the 19th century, it was acquired by the Uruguayan government. The building served as the main presidential residence for more than a hundred years until it was decided to convert it to a museum of presidential gifts. It functioned only a few years. In 2009, the beautiful palace was restored and converted into a mausoleum, which currently houses the remains of José Artigas, the famous national hero.
Nature lovers in Montevideo are sure to be invited to Lobos Island. Today, the whole territory of the island is a nature reserve. The island that is not rich in vegetation became a habitat of a large colony of sea lions. Curious tourists come here to see these amazing animals every day. The island can also offer a lot of surfing and scuba diving sites.
The picturesque sandy beach of Punta del Este has long been a popular tourist destination due to the talent of the local sculptor Mario Irarrázabal. In 1982, Montevideo hosted the annual International Meeting of Modern Sculpture where Mario Irarrázabal presented an unusual monument depicting a hand rising out of the sand. The height of the sculptural composition is about 3 meters. According to the author, it should serve as a warning to tourists, as it is extremely important to be cautious during the beach holiday.
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