Atlántida, Uruguay
Encyclopedia
Atlántida is a resort
town of the Costa de Oro
in Canelones Department
of Uruguay
, 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of Montevideo
. It is located on Ruta Interbalnearia
, near the junction with Route 11
. It started in the beginning of the 20th century as a resort for the elite class of Montevideo and remained so until the mid 1950s. Today it is mainly a middle class resort with more than 4,600 permanent inhabitants.
On 7 September 1967 by Law Nr.13.609 it became classified as a city.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
is architecturally striking, described as "a simple rectangle, with side walls rising up in undulating curves to the maximum amplitude of their arcs"."El Águila" is an enigmatic and attractive stone building that gave rise to several legends, from a smuggler's haven, a Nazi observatory and a "cosmic energy centre". It was built by Michellizzi, who originally called it "La Quimera". For a while, La Quimera was used by Michellizzi as meeting place with friends and to spend long hours of reading in solitude. After he died, the building and its gardens deteriorated. Michellizzi also founded one of the first hotels in the area, Hotel Planeta Palace, which still stands today.
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
town of the Costa de Oro
Costa de Oro
Costa de Oro is a 45 km long group of resort towns and beaches in Canelones Department, Uruguay, east of the Ciudad de la Costa. Until 19 October 1994 it also included all the resorts that became henceforth integrated under the name Ciudad de la Costa...
in Canelones Department
Canelones Department
The Canelones Department , with an area of and 485,240 inhabitants, is located to the south of Uruguay. Its capital is Canelones.-Geography and climate:...
of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. It is located on Ruta Interbalnearia
Ruta Interbalnearia
Ruta Interbalnearia or Ruta Líber Seregni is a national route of Uruguay. It connects Montevideo with Punta del Este to the east along the coast. The road is approximately in length...
, near the junction with Route 11
Route 11 (Uruguay)
Route 11 is a national route of Uruguay. In 1983, it was assigned the name José Batlle y Ordóñez. It connects Atlántida to Ecilda Paullier.-References:...
. It started in the beginning of the 20th century as a resort for the elite class of Montevideo and remained so until the mid 1950s. Today it is mainly a middle class resort with more than 4,600 permanent inhabitants.
History
The first plans of a resort in the area were drawn in 1911 and in the next year the parcelling and selling of plots began. In 1913 the Hotel Las Toscas was built near the beach, which in 1915 took on its actual name, Atlántida. The development accelerated from 1939 onwards, when Natalio Michelizzi (a wealthy Italian businessman living in Buenos Aires) decided to buy all the land that had not been parcelled or developed and invested in its development.On 7 September 1967 by Law Nr.13.609 it became classified as a city.
Population
In 2004, Atlántida had a population of 4,580.| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 1,562 |
| 1975 | 2,268 |
| 1985 | 2,764 |
| 1996 | 3,989 |
| 2004 | 4,580 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
Landmarks
Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker, built in 1958-60 by Eladio DiesteEladio Dieste
Eladio Dieste was a Uruguayan engineer and architect who made his reputation by building a range of structures from grain silos, factory sheds, markets and churches, all in Uruguay and all of exceptional elegance...
is architecturally striking, described as "a simple rectangle, with side walls rising up in undulating curves to the maximum amplitude of their arcs"."El Águila" is an enigmatic and attractive stone building that gave rise to several legends, from a smuggler's haven, a Nazi observatory and a "cosmic energy centre". It was built by Michellizzi, who originally called it "La Quimera". For a while, La Quimera was used by Michellizzi as meeting place with friends and to spend long hours of reading in solitude. After he died, the building and its gardens deteriorated. Michellizzi also founded one of the first hotels in the area, Hotel Planeta Palace, which still stands today.
Beaches
The beaches of Atlántida are frequented by mainly by wealthy Uruguayans. They are characterized by being bordered by pine trees. the main beaches are Playa La Brava and Playa La Mansa. La Mansa is ideal for families, since the water is very calm, whilst La Brava typically has much rougher currents and is very popular with young people who enjoy water sports. These beaches are completely deserted in the winter months.Images
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