Carmelo
Encyclopedia
Carmelo is a city located in the department of Colonia
of western Uruguay
. Route 21 passes through the city, joining it with Nueva Palmira
to the northwest and Colonia del Sacramento
to the southeast. Carmelo is noted for its wineries.
, governor of Asuncion
, landed cattle near the mouth of the Arroyo de las Vacas. The present city was founded by José Gervasio Artigas
on 12 February 1816. It took the official status of "city" on 17 August 1920 by decree Ley No. 7.257. It is the only city founded personally by the Uruguayan national hero, and it still holds this office proudly.
Carmelo has a swing bridge, the Puerte Giratorio de Carmelo, over the Arroyo de las Vacas, which opened on May 1, 1912.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
There are two squares in the city. The one is Plaza Artigas, with a monument to the foundation of the city, the church Templo Histórico del Carmen and the city museum and archive. The other, more central square is the commercial centre of the city. The main commercial street is 19 de Avril, which at its south ends at a bridge, after which it becomes Route 21 which joins it with Colonia del Sacramento
and also forks towards other destinations.
The river Arroyo de las Vacas runs along the east and south part of the city. This river serves as a port for the town. On its north bank there is the Puerto Carmelo-Tigre, where small catamaran boats carry passengers across the Río de la Plata
to Argentina
. A bridge joins the north part of the city with its small southern part, where another port along the southern banks of the river accommodates private boats and the Yacht Club Carmelo. In the same part, along the coast there is beach Playa Seré, a park, a small zoological garden and a Casino Hotel.
and Carmelo there is a streach along the Río Uruguay of great tourist importance. Points of interest in this area are Punta Gorda, Zagarzazú
and Colonia Estrella. In Zagarzazú there is a small airport and a luxury hotel, the Four Seasons Carmelo Hotel, with an important golf course.
Just northwest of Carmelo is Juncal Island
which once held a notorious prison.
Colonia Department
Colonia is a departamento in southwestern Uruguay. Its capital is Colonia del Sacramento, the country's second oldest city.-Economy:The region is the main producer of dairy products in Uruguay...
of western 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...
. Route 21 passes through the city, joining it with Nueva Palmira
Nueva Palmira
Nueva Palmira is a city in Colonia Department in south-western Uruguay. It is located on the east bank of Uruguay River, about northwest of the departmental capital Colonia del Sacramento.-Population:In 2004, it had a population of 9,230....
to the northwest and Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
to the southeast. Carmelo is noted for its wineries.
History
During the beginning of the Conquest of the 16th century, the Spanish founded the Fuerte de San Lázaro (April 7, 1527 - October 1530). In 1611, Hernando Arias de SaavedraHernando Arias de Saavedra
Hernando Arias de Saavedra , commonly known as Hernandarias, was a soldier and politician of criollo ancestry. He was the first American-born person to become a governor of a European colony in the Americas.-Early life:...
, governor of Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, landed cattle near the mouth of the Arroyo de las Vacas. The present city was founded by José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764...
on 12 February 1816. It took the official status of "city" on 17 August 1920 by decree Ley No. 7.257. It is the only city founded personally by the Uruguayan national hero, and it still holds this office proudly.
Carmelo has a swing bridge, the Puerte Giratorio de Carmelo, over the Arroyo de las Vacas, which opened on May 1, 1912.
Population
In 2004, Carmelo had a population of 16,866.| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 12.680 |
| 1975 | 13.707 |
| 1985 | 14.278 |
| 1996 | 16.658 |
| 2004 | 16,866 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
Landmarks
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
and also forks towards other destinations.
The river Arroyo de las Vacas runs along the east and south part of the city. This river serves as a port for the town. On its north bank there is the Puerto Carmelo-Tigre, where small catamaran boats carry passengers across the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. A bridge joins the north part of the city with its small southern part, where another port along the southern banks of the river accommodates private boats and the Yacht Club Carmelo. In the same part, along the coast there is beach Playa Seré, a park, a small zoological garden and a Casino Hotel.
Symbols of Carmelo
The area around the city
Between Nueva PalmiraNueva Palmira
Nueva Palmira is a city in Colonia Department in south-western Uruguay. It is located on the east bank of Uruguay River, about northwest of the departmental capital Colonia del Sacramento.-Population:In 2004, it had a population of 9,230....
and Carmelo there is a streach along the Río Uruguay of great tourist importance. Points of interest in this area are Punta Gorda, Zagarzazú
Zagarzazú
Zagarzazú or Balneario Zagarzazú is a resort village in the Colonia Department of southwestern Uruguay. It is located on the coast of Río Uruguay, north of the city of Carmelo and just south of Route 21....
and Colonia Estrella. In Zagarzazú there is a small airport and a luxury hotel, the Four Seasons Carmelo Hotel, with an important golf course.
Just northwest of Carmelo is Juncal Island
Juncal Island
Juncal Island is an island belonging to Uruguay, located where the Uruguay River empties into the Rio de la Plata, a bit above the Uruguayan town of Carmelo...
which once held a notorious prison.
Notable people
- Juan Francisco Aragone, Archbishop of Montevideo
- Gonzalo Pérez Iribarren, mathematician
- Juan Carlos MarecoJuan Carlos MarecoJuan Carlos Mareco was a Uruguayan actor and radio and television talk show host. He achieved fame in Spain, Chile and Argentina from the 1960s onwards in comedy roles and as a television host in a variety of genres....
, actor - Atilio François, former cyclist