Obelisk of Montevideo, Monument at the intersection of 18 de Julio Avenue and Artigas Boulevard, Montevideo, Uruguay.
The Obelisk of Montevideo is a granite monument standing at the intersection of 18 de Julio Avenue and Artigas Boulevard. This 40-meter-high structure features three bronze statues on its triangular faces representing Law, Liberty, and Force, surrounded by a hexagonal fountain that makes it a distinctive public landmark.
The monument was built in 1930 to commemorate the centennial of Uruguay's first Constitution. It honors the members of the General Assembly who drafted this foundational document for the nation.
The monument served as a gathering place during the Río de Libertad demonstration in 1983, which remains the largest public protest in Uruguayan history. Visitors standing here today can sense the significance this location holds for the nation's memory of that pivotal moment.
The monument is located at the entrance of Parque Batlle and can be reached easily through several public transportation stops. The surrounding area offers open space that is accessible on foot and provides good views of the neighborhood.
The design of this monument later inspired the construction of a similar but taller monument in Buenos Aires at Avenida 9 de Julio, built six years afterward. This architectural connection between two South American capitals reflects the region's cross-border influence.
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