Fortaleza del Cerro Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in Villa del Cerro, Uruguay.
The Fortaleza del Cerro Lighthouse is a brick tower that rises from the fortress complex and serves as a navigation marker for ships entering the river. Its cylindrical structure with a balcony at the top makes it visible from across the water and the surrounding neighborhoods.
This lighthouse was built in 1802 and stands among the oldest navigation aids constructed during the Spanish colonial period in this region. It formed part of the final major fortress the Spanish established in Uruguay.
The lighthouse forms part of the Fortaleza del Cerro complex, which houses the Military Museum displaying collections of Uruguayan maritime and military artifacts.
The site is located on a hill in the Villa del Cerro neighborhood and is accessible by public transportation. Visitors can walk around the fortress complex and view the lighthouse from different angles around the hilltop.
The lighthouse occupies the highest point in Montevideo and functioned both as a navigation aid and as part of a military fortification. This dual purpose, combining maritime safety with defensive strength, makes it a distinctive historical structure in the city.
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