San José

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Being an unknown destination in the traditional circuit Tourism Uruguay does not means does not worth to a visit by the department of San Jose in Uruguay. The best way to discover the city of San José de Mayo, its capital city is to start by the main square "33 orientales". In the center is a monument: the Pyramid of Peace in April, opened in 1873. The marble base, with 4 stairways and 4 lions each holding a shield 1, and is worn by many generations of maragata (and are named originally from San Jose), which climbed up to them.

Facing the main square is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, a wonderful architectural work of the late 19th century, with its dramatic high altar (sculpture by Catalan Sunday Mora), the impressive columns of Carrara marble, the frescoes by the painter Italian Linen Dinetti, the Murano glass chandeliers and his no less famous Swiss watch, implemented the August 25, 1900 that still works perfectly. Oh! and do not be surprised when you hear, from anywhere in the city the bells from the church, marking the hours on time.

To encircle the square, go to the theater Macció. It is easy to visit because it has a great cultural activity and usually opens its doors. At the Tourist Office which is adjacent to the theater, you should submit details of activities, schedules and information necessary for the city. And until you can take to get a souvenir of the permanent exhibition of maragata craftspeople exhibiting their work there.

You don't need to go too far, because in the corner of the church you can take the pedestrian Assembly. It is a commercial zone, but in the middle of the street, twenty steps from the source, almost like a sculpture based neglect of scrap Hugo Nantes (famous local contemporary artist), so strange and interesting, especially for those who do not know his work. About the workshop of painter / sculptor Nantes often visited to show their paintings and sculptures, but there are still other opencast addition to the sculpture of the foot, the tiles are his work of the 33 banks in the plaza. On the Square there is also a small number of restaurants and pizzerias where to have lunch but if you step with time and with car you can find good food out of San Jose along Route 3.

When you away from the square you can go up to the May 25 Fifth Kiln, a typical seaside mansion in one of the patrician families of San José (Larre family) of the 19th century. It is open to the public and can be visited for free care and elegant gardens and the interior of the property.

Then, following May 25 street, you get to Route 3 and you have 2 options: either turn right to visit the "Picada Varela" in the 95 km of Route 3, turn left and know Rodó Park .

If you prefer the "Picada de Varela" waits a landscape of mountain and beach on the Rio San Jose, a place visited by families to escape the heat maragata rules. During the summer, also runs a hostel with a swimming pool. If the day is pleasant, the second option, Rodó Park is an ideal place to visit with children, as there is a careful and lengthy zoo, games for children and ponds with ducks and carp, a perfect place for picnics, quincho area and barbecues, a romantic stroll for lovers, and lonely wooded trails, a place for fans of speed, as there are motor racing and karting in kartódromo Luis Pedro Serra (capital of karting Mercosur). Sport & Fitness, aerobics trails, tennis courts, football and paddle. A place for all where you can spend a good time or all day.

Within the city there are also other historical sites of interest as the Prime Artigas Monument erected in the country (1894) of 14 meters, a mass of about 7 tons of granite. The design of this monument was entrusted to Juan Luis Blanes who died shortly after leaving the order of the sketches in the hands of his father, the painter Juan Manuel Blanes. To reach the pedestrian walk and continue 4 blocks.

Surroundings

If you enjoy nature, you can not miss the Sierras de Mahoma (Mountains of Muhammad), 23 km on Route 26. A unique sea of stone called by the locals, 20 square miles of rugged terrain, ideal for trekking, with fancy-looking rock formations (the turtle, the plane, the sphere, etc.).. You can visit every day (and the 25th of each month admission is free). If you like adventure, that's a needed visit.

And for those looking for sand and sea, the chain of resorts on the Rio de la Plata offers from serene beaches of white sand beaches of Bocas Cufré, where you can enjoy browsing through the stream Cufré, both for sport fishing for practice water sports, (it is 101 km from Route 1 and is 17 km and half of an excellent way of ballast). Also impressive cliff with unmissable sunsets Kiyú (you can enter the 61 km of Route 1 and travel 14 km along a road impeccable), or places like Playa Penina (just behind the bridge on the River Saint Lucia) which meet regularly enthusiasts birdwatching.

Finally, if you get stopped by San Jose, you can include in your schedule, some agrotourism establishments in the list you have here, always booking in advance. An extensive menu of options to choose from, just one hour from Montevideo.

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