Legislative Palace, Parliament building in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The Legislative Palace is the parliament building in Montevideo, Uruguay, housing both chambers of the national assembly. The structure spans an entire city block and uses marble from different quarries across the country for facades, columns, and vaults in neoclassical style.
Work began in 1908 after Victor Meano won an international competition, but he never learned of his success because he was murdered beforehand. Gaetano Moretti took over the direction and carried the project through to its inauguration in 1925.
The Hall of Lost Steps takes its name from the way visitors once waited and wandered across the marble floors. Lawmakers and staff still cross this room today on their way between the chambers, while tourists admire the ceiling paintings and bronze work.
Tours must be booked in advance and typically last about an hour through the main rooms and corridors. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as there are many staircases and long hallways to walk through.
The central glass dome is supported by caryatids representing different academic disciplines, from medicine to law. These female figures combine architecture and symbolism by both holding up the roof and embodying knowledge.
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