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Legislative Palace of Uruguay

Coordinates: 34°53′28″S 56°11′14″W / 34.89107°S 56.18726°W / -34.89107; -56.18726
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Legislative Palace of Uruguay
Palacio Legislativo del Uruguay
Map
General information
Architectural styleNeo-classical architecture
LocationMontevideo, Uruguay
Construction started1904
Completed1925
OwnerGeneral Assembly of Uruguay
Design and construction
Architect(s)Vittorio Meano
Gaetano Moretti
Main contractorG. y M. Debernardis

The Legislative Palace of Uruguay (Spanish: Palacio Legislativo del Uruguay) is a monumental building, meeting place of the General Assembly of Uruguay, and the seat of the legislative branch of the Uruguayan government. It is located in the Aguada neighborhood of Montevideo.[1]

Constructed between 1904 and 1925, the building was inaugurated on August 25, 1925, in commemoration of the centenary of the Declaration of Independence. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1975 by the government of President Juan María Bordaberry.[2]

History

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In 1902, a law was made that approved the call for international competition for architectural projects for the construction of a new headquarters for the legislative branch, since its old headquarters, the Montevideo Cabildo, had several inadequacies. The project of the architect Vittorio Meano, who at that time was building the Palace of the Argentine National Congress in Buenos Aires, was approved. He never found out that his project had been the winner since he died suddenly before he could be contacted by the Legislative Palace Commission, organizer of the project competition.[2]

The construction of this building started in 1904, sponsored by the government of President José Batlle y Ordoñez. It was designed by Italian architects Vittorio Meano and Gaetano Moretti,[2] who planned the building's interior that is covered with marble. Among the notable contributors to the project was sculptor José Belloni, who created numerous reliefs and allegorical sculptures for the building. On August 25, 1925, the palace was formally inaugurated. Although the decoration work was not completed until 1964.[3] The inauguration was presided over by President José Serrato.[4]

Architecture

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The palace is a Greco-Roman eclecticist-styled building whose facades, interior walls, vaults and columns are covered with different marbles from Uruguay. It took almost three decades to build.[5] It consists of three large halls and several adjoining rooms, an upper floor where the Library of the Legislative Power works with more than 250,000 volumes[6] and some parliamentary offices, as well as a large basement where there are offices, warehouses and printing and binding workshops. The main facade of the building is aligned with the axis of symmetry of Libertador Avenue.

Interior

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Lobby of Honor

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The Honorary Lobby is the first room after the main entrance of the building.[7] It connects the portico with the Hall of the Lost Steps, and it exhibits works of art such as "La Jura de la Constitución 1830" by Pedro Blanes Viale, and the "Encuentro de un Centauro Indio con el León Hispano" and "El primer surco", both by Manuel Rosé.[8]

Hall of the Lost Steps

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Hall of the Lost Steps

In the nave of the building is the Hall of the Lost Steps (Spanish: Salón de los Pasos Perdidos), which is inspired by the cathedrals of the Renaissance and is composed of two vaults and a central skylight, which separates the two chambers in which the Senate and the House of Representatives meet.[9] The entrance to each of the chambers is crowned with three stained glass windows that form a semicircle.[9]

Guards guarding the Constitution

This hall is usually used for art exhibitions, concerts and other events.[10][11] It has been the site of the lying in state of former presidents and ministers and lying in honor of several Uruguayan personalities, such as Juana de Ibarbourou (who also received the title of "Juana of America" there in 1929),[12] Mario Benedetti,[13] China Zorrilla,[14] Carlos Páez Vilaró,[15] Eduardo Galeano,[16] Carlos Maggi[17] and Alcides Ghiggia.[18] In addition, the Hall of the Lost Steps preserves the original copies of the Constitution of 1830 and the Declaration of Independence of 1825.[19]

Special Events Hall

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Also known as the Party Hall, the works inside are meant to reflect episodes in Uruguayan history, such as "Las Instrucciones del Año XIII" or "El Éxodo del Pueblo Oriental".[20] They exhibit portraits of famous figures, such as Fructuoso Rivera, Manuel Oribe and Juan Antonio Lavalleja.[21] Its ceiling has gilt highlights on the 24-karat gold leaf.

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  • Main facade view
    Main facade view
  • Columns of the main facade and staircase
    Columns of the main facade and staircase
  • Uruguayan flag waving in front of the palace
    Uruguayan flag waving in front of the palace

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Poder Legislativo". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010. Historia del Edificio'Poder Legislativo
  2. ^ a b c "Víctor Meano, asesinado arquitecto de la democracia" [Victor Meano, assassinated architect of democracy]. viajes.elpais.com.uy. Legislative Palace. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  3. ^ ElPais (September 9, 2015). "Secretos del Palacio Legislativo". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  4. ^ "Historia". Parlamento del Uruguay (in Spanish). April 17, 2013. First stage: Preliminary proposals. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  5. ^ "Arquitectura e historia del Palacio Legislativo de Montevideo". www.viajeauruguay.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  6. ^ "Improving Democratic Accountability Globally" (PDF). World Bank Institute: 24. November 2013 – via Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption.
  7. ^ "Palacio Legislativo". Intendencia de Montevideo (in Spanish). June 16, 2023. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  8. ^ "27° Edición Del "día Del Patrimonio"" [27th Edition of "Heritage Day"]. www.diputados.gub.uy (in Spanish). Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Palacio Legislativo, testimonio de la grandeza de un país" [Legislative Palace, testimony to the greatness of a country]. La Mañana (in Spanish). October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "El Espectador 810". espectador.com (in Spanish). Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Uruguaya, Sociedad (April 23, 2015). "Centenario del Genocidio Armenio: Ceremonia en el Salón de los Pasos Perdidos del Palacio Legislativo". Sociedad Uruguaya (in Spanish). Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Fisher, Diego (August 9, 2019). "El día que Juana de Ibarbourou se convirtió en un mito" [The day Juana de Ibarbourou became a myth]. El Pais (in Spanish). Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  13. ^ "Los uruguayos se despiden de un Benedetti que "nunca muere" (+Fotos)" [Uruguayans say goodbye to a Benedetti who "never dies" (+Photos)]. Noticias24. October 26, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "China Zorrilla será velada este jueves en el Salón de los Pasos Perdidos del Palacio Legislativo" [China Zorrilla will be laid to rest this Thursday in the Hall of Lost Steps of the Legislative Palace]. historico.espectador.com (in Spanish). September 17, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Los restos de Páez Vilaró ya descansan en el Cementerio del Norte" [The remains of Páez Vilaró now rest in the Northern Cemetery]. El Observador. February 25, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Eduardo Galeano fue velado en el Palacio Legislativo" [Eduardo Galeano was laid to rest in the Legislative Palace]. Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). April 14, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Políticos y personalidades despidieron a Carlos Maggi en el Palacio Legislativo" [Politicians and personalities bid farewell to Carlos Maggi at the Legislative Palace]. Teledoce.com (in Spanish). May 16, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Imágenes del velatorio de Alcides Ghiggia en el Palacio Legislativo" [Images from the wake of Alcides Ghiggia at the Legislative Palace]. El Observador (in Spanish). July 17, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "Constitución de la República de 1830 será presentada en versión digital". Uruguay Presidencia (in Spanish). Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "El renovado salón de fiestas del Palacio Legislativo" [The renovated ballroom of the Legislative Palace]. Radiomundo En Perspectiva (in Spanish). December 19, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  21. ^ "Historia". Parlamento del Uruguay (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 16, 2022.
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34°53′28″S 56°11′14″W / 34.89107°S 56.18726°W / -34.89107; -56.18726


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