Parque Batlle
Encyclopedia
Parque Batlle (formerly: Parque de los Aliados, translation: "Allied Park") is a barrio
(neighbourhood or district) and a major public central park in Montevideo
, Uruguay
. It is named in honour of José Batlle y Ordóñez
, President of Uruguay
from 1911–1915. The park as seen now covers an area of 60 hectares (148.3 acre) and is considered the "lung" of the Montevideo city owing to the large variety of trees planted here. Home to the Estadio Centenario
national football stadium as well as the national monument "La Carreta", it also has high density residential living space.
, began the plantings in 1911 and completed it with all the attendant embellishments required for a park. In 1918, the park was named "Allied Park," following the allied Army winning the World War I
thus honouring the heroes of the Allied Forces. The park was further expanded to the present status, which covers an area of 60 hectares (148.3 acre). This extension was made possible owing to an estate that Antonio Pereira in his "Will" had bequeathed partly to the municipality in May 1930. The Board then further acquired more land and created the Great Park Pereira seen in its present status. May 5, 1930, it was again renamed as Parque Batlle y Ordóñez, in memory of the prominent Politician and President of Uruguay, who had died in 1929. In the same year, the Estadio Centenario was opened. Between 1935 and 1938, the athletics track and the municipal velodrome
were completed. It was designated a National Historic Monument Park in 1975.
and Parque Rodó
, Batlle is one of three large parks that dominate Montevideo. The park contains the 70,000 seat Estadio Centenario, built for the first soccer world cup in 1930
, which is both the national football stadium and it contains a football museum. There is also the Tabaré Athletic Club which is occasionally made over as a carnival theatre using impermanent materials. The Municipal Velodrome, two smaller stadiums (the Parque Palermo
and the Parque Luis Méndez Piana
), and a target shooting facility are additional attractions. It is an ideal place for walking, hiking or exercise and enjoy the fresh air provided by the wooded area.
was introduced. The monument, one of several statues in the park, is located on Avenida Lorenzo Merola near Estadio Centenario and depicts yoke
d oxen pulling a loaded wagon. It was designated a national monument in 1976. Another statue in the same side of the park is a bronze copy of the Discobolus
of Myron.
On the West side of Parque Batlle, on Artigas Boulevard
, there is the Obelisk of Montevideo
, a monument dedicated to those who created the first Constitution and inaugurated in 1938. It is a monumental work of the sculptor José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín (1891–1975). It is a three-sided obelisk made of granite, 40 metres (131.2 ft) tall with 3 bronze statues on its sides, representing "Law", "Liberty" and "Force." It has a hexagonal water fountain around it with six spheres on its outer circumference. It is located at the intersection of 18 de Julio and Artigas Boulevard avenues, in Montevideo, at the entrance of the Parque Batlle area. It is a National Heritage Site since 1976.
of the Faculty of Medicine of the University and a Site of Municipal Interest since 1995, the Italian Hospital
and Hospital Pereira Rossell
(next to the obelisk), the Hospital Británico, a National Heritage Site since 1975, the Sanatorio Americano, Médica Uruguaya
to the west of the northwest point of the park and others. Two other National Heritage Sites, both opposite the Estadio Centenario, are Conedor Universitario No. 2 (the Canteen of the University) and the Instituto de Higiene.
, Carrasco, Malvin, Pocitos
, Punta Carretas, and Punta Gorda. The current Parque Battle barrio includes four former districts: Belgrano, Italiano, Villa Dolores and Batlle Park itself. It lies south of Avenida Italia and north of Avenue Rivera. Parque Batlle borders the barrios of La Blanqueada
, Tres Cruces
, Pocitos and Buceo. It is characterized as being of high population density and most of the households are of medium-high- or high-income. According to Administración Nacional de Educación Pública (ANEP) of Uruguay, the Parque Batlle school district, Villa Dolores, was ranked 55 of 60 for the period of 1990–1999.
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
(neighbourhood or district) and a major public central park in 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...
, 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...
. It is named in honour of José Batlle y Ordóñez
José Batlle y Ordóñez
José Pablo Torcuato Batlle y Ordóñez was the president of Uruguay in 1899 and from 1903 until 1907 and for a further term from 1911 to 1915. He was the son of former president, Lorenzo Batlle y Grau. His children César, Rafael and Lorenzo Batlle Pacheco were actively engaged in politics...
, President of Uruguay
President of Uruguay
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
from 1911–1915. The park as seen now covers an area of 60 hectares (148.3 acre) and is considered the "lung" of the Montevideo city owing to the large variety of trees planted here. Home to the Estadio Centenario
Estadio Centenario
Estadio Centenario is a stadium in Parque Batlle, Montevideo, Uruguay, used primarily for football. The stadium was built between 1929 and 1930 to host the 1930 FIFA World Cup, as well as to commemorate the centennial of Uruguay's first constitution...
national football stadium as well as the national monument "La Carreta", it also has high density residential living space.
History
In 1907, Pablo Nereo Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1838–1906) donated eleven acres of his land, which was then named after him as "Campo Pereira," for a building a park, to the Economic Management Board, and the idea of a park was created by an Act of March 1907 which also projected wide boulevards and avenues. The project's landscape French architect, Carlos ThaysCarlos Thays
Carlos Thays was a French-Argentine landscape architect, and a student of French landscape architect Édouard André.-Biography:...
, began the plantings in 1911 and completed it with all the attendant embellishments required for a park. In 1918, the park was named "Allied Park," following the allied Army winning the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
thus honouring the heroes of the Allied Forces. The park was further expanded to the present status, which covers an area of 60 hectares (148.3 acre). This extension was made possible owing to an estate that Antonio Pereira in his "Will" had bequeathed partly to the municipality in May 1930. The Board then further acquired more land and created the Great Park Pereira seen in its present status. May 5, 1930, it was again renamed as Parque Batlle y Ordóñez, in memory of the prominent Politician and President of Uruguay, who had died in 1929. In the same year, the Estadio Centenario was opened. Between 1935 and 1938, the athletics track and the municipal velodrome
Velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
were completed. It was designated a National Historic Monument Park in 1975.
Park
Along with Parque PradoPrado, Montevideo
Prado is a barrio and a major public park in Montevideo, Uruguay. Together with Nueva Savona, they form the Prado - Nueva Savona composite barrio....
and Parque Rodó
Parque Rodó
Parque Rodó is both a barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay and a park which lies mostly outside the limits of the barrio itself and belongs to Punta Carretas...
, Batlle is one of three large parks that dominate Montevideo. The park contains the 70,000 seat Estadio Centenario, built for the first soccer world cup in 1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
, which is both the national football stadium and it contains a football museum. There is also the Tabaré Athletic Club which is occasionally made over as a carnival theatre using impermanent materials. The Municipal Velodrome, two smaller stadiums (the Parque Palermo
Parque Palermo
Parque Palermo is a multi-use stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is currently used primarily for football matches and is the home stadium of Central Español. The stadium holds 6,500 spectators. Parque Palermo is located within Parque Batlle, close to the Estadio Centenario and the Parque Luis...
and the Parque Luis Méndez Piana
Parque Luis Méndez Piana
Parque Luis Méndez Piana is a multi-use stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is currently used primarily for football matches and is the home stadium of Miramar Misiones. The stadium holds 4,000 people....
), and a target shooting facility are additional attractions. It is an ideal place for walking, hiking or exercise and enjoy the fresh air provided by the wooded area.
Monuments
In 1934, "La Carreta", a bronze monument on granite base by José BelloniJosé Belloni
José Belloni was a Uruguayan sculptor of the Realist school.- Biography :José Belloni was born in Montevideo, in 1882. His family returned to Europe in 1890, however, and the Bellonis settled in Lugano, Switzerland...
was introduced. The monument, one of several statues in the park, is located on Avenida Lorenzo Merola near Estadio Centenario and depicts yoke
Yoke
A yoke is a wooden beam, normally used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do; some yokes are fitted to individual animals. There are several types of yoke, used in different cultures, and for different types of oxen...
d oxen pulling a loaded wagon. It was designated a national monument in 1976. Another statue in the same side of the park is a bronze copy of the Discobolus
Discobolus
The Discobolus of Myron is a famous Greek sculpture that was completed towards the end of the Severe period, circa 460-450 BC. The original Greek bronze is lost...
of Myron.
On the West side of Parque Batlle, on Artigas Boulevard
Artigas Boulevard
Artigas Boulevard is an avenue in Montevideo named after Uruguayan hero José Artigas. It starts from the Rambla of Montevideo at Punta Carretas, goes north for about 6.5 kilometers, turns 100º west, and runs for another 4 kilometers up to the Rambla at Capurro - Bella Vista.It meets with...
, there is the Obelisk of Montevideo
Obelisk of Montevideo
The Obelisk of Montevideo, officially listed as the Obelisco a los Constituyentes de 1830, is a monument, work of the sculptor José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín . It is a three sided obelisk made of granite, 40 meters tall with 3 bronze statues on its sides, representing "Law", "Liberty" and "Force"...
, a monument dedicated to those who created the first Constitution and inaugurated in 1938. It is a monumental work of the sculptor José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín (1891–1975). It is a three-sided obelisk made of granite, 40 metres (131.2 ft) tall with 3 bronze statues on its sides, representing "Law", "Liberty" and "Force." It has a hexagonal water fountain around it with six spheres on its outer circumference. It is located at the intersection of 18 de Julio and Artigas Boulevard avenues, in Montevideo, at the entrance of the Parque Batlle area. It is a National Heritage Site since 1976.
Notable buildings
Apart from the stadium, the area around the park has many buildings notable for their architecture and style. Among them are several hospitals, the biggest of which is the Hospital de ClínicasHospital de Clínicas
Hospital de Clínicas "Dr. Manuel Quintela" is a hospital in the Parque Batlle area of Montevideo, Uruguay. It belongs to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of the Republic. It functions as a general hospital, and is a general reference institution. The building was designed by architect...
of the Faculty of Medicine of the University and a Site of Municipal Interest since 1995, the Italian Hospital
Italian Hospital of Montevideo
The Italian Hospital of Montevideo, whose official name is Ospedale italiano Umberto I, is a clinic and sanatorium founded in 1890 near Parque Batlle, Montevideo. It lies just to the north of the 1830 obelisk and the Hospital Pereira Rossell...
and Hospital Pereira Rossell
Hospital Pereira Rossell
Hospital Pereira Rossell is a hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is located in the barrio of Parque Batlle, just west of the park of the same name. It was founded in 1908 and was built on land donated in late 1900 by Alexis Rossell y Rius and Dolores Pereira de Rossell...
(next to the obelisk), the Hospital Británico, a National Heritage Site since 1975, the Sanatorio Americano, Médica Uruguaya
Médica Uruguaya
Médica Uruguaya is a private medical association of Uruguay with its central offices and hospital located next to Plaza de la Bandera , between Avenida 8 de Octubre and Avenida Italia, in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is located in the barrio of Tres Cruces, to the west of the park of Parque Batlle...
to the west of the northwest point of the park and others. Two other National Heritage Sites, both opposite the Estadio Centenario, are Conedor Universitario No. 2 (the Canteen of the University) and the Instituto de Higiene.
Villa Dolores
Villa Dolores is a district of Parque Batlle. It took its name from the original Villa of Don Alejo Rossell y Rius and of Doña Dolores Pereira de Rossel who started there a private collection of animals which became a zoological garden. It was passed to the city in 1919, and in 1955 the Planetarium of Montevideo was built within its premises.barrio
Montevideo's barrios are divided into four regions: central area, coastal, intermediate area, and remote peripheral area. Parque Battle is one of seven coastal area barrios, the others being BuceoBuceo
Buceo is a barrio in Montevideo, Uruguay. It borders To the Pocitos and Villa Dolores to the west, Parque Batlle, Unión and Malvín Norte to the north, Malvín to the east and the coastline to the south. The coastal avenue along Buceo takes on the names Rambla Armenia and Rambla República de Chile...
, Carrasco, Malvin, Pocitos
Pocitos
Pocitos is an upscale beach barrio in Uruguay's capital city, Montevideo.This area is located along the banks of the Rio de la Plata. The barrio is known for its beach, Playa Pocitos, and the Rambla, or boulevard, that lies alongside it...
, Punta Carretas, and Punta Gorda. The current Parque Battle barrio includes four former districts: Belgrano, Italiano, Villa Dolores and Batlle Park itself. It lies south of Avenida Italia and north of Avenue Rivera. Parque Batlle borders the barrios of La Blanqueada
La Blanqueada
La Blanqueada is a barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay. It borders Tres Cruces to the west, Larrañaga to the northwest, Unión to the northeast and Parque Batlle to the south. It is home to the Military Hospital....
, Tres Cruces
Tres Cruces
Tres Cruces is a barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay. It shares borders with Cordón to the south and to the west, with La Comercial and Larrañaga to the north and with La Blanqueada and Parque Batlle to the east...
, Pocitos and Buceo. It is characterized as being of high population density and most of the households are of medium-high- or high-income. According to Administración Nacional de Educación Pública (ANEP) of Uruguay, the Parque Batlle school district, Villa Dolores, was ranked 55 of 60 for the period of 1990–1999.