Hotel Nacional de Montevideo

Hotel Nacional de Montevideo is a four-story building in Ciudad Vieja featuring French classical architecture with ornate details covering its exterior facade. A central courtyard crossed by a staircase divides the interior space and connects the different levels.

Built in 1888 by architect Juan Tosi under Emilio Reus initiative, the structure never opened as a hotel after the 1890 economic crisis struck. It later found new purpose through academic use before eventually becoming a designated national monument.

The building served as home to various university departments including Mathematics, Architecture, and Humanities over many decades. This educational role shaped how locals understood the structure's importance within the city's intellectual life.

The monument sits within easy reach from Ciudad Vieja's central areas and is visible from nearby streets. Since the structure remains empty, take time to view its exterior architecture and details from the surroundings rather than trying to access the inside.

The structure was originally planned as part of a medical and hydrotherapy complex in the southern section of Ciudad Vieja. This ambitious vision never fully materialized, leaving only this building as a reminder of what was once imagined for that area.