Kosher and Jewish Life in Montevideo

Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital and largest city. Montevideo is situated on the north shore of the Río de la Plata, the arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the south coast of Uruguay from the north coast of Argentina. Its heart is the Plaza Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. The plaza separates the city's downtown from its Ciudad Vieja (old town), with art deco buildings, colonial homes and landmarks including the towering Palacio Salvo and the neoclassical Solís Theatre. The Mercado del Puerto is a former stall market now filled with steakhouses. The city was established in 1714, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population). Tourism accounts for much of Uruguay's economy. Tourism in Montevideo is centered in the Ciudad Vieja area, which includes the city's oldest buildings, several museums, art galleries, and nightclubs, with Sarandí Street and the Mercado del Puerto being the most frequented venues of the old city. Montevideo has over 50 hotels, mostly located within the downtown area or along the beachfront of the Rambla de Montevideo. The city has cool winters (June to September), hot summers (December to March) and volatile springs (October and November).