El Águila, Stone building in Villa Argentina, Uruguay.
El Águila is a stone building in Villa Argentina, Uruguay, built on the edge of a cliff overlooking the beach. It is shaped like a creature that is half eagle and half dolphin, with carved stone figures worked into the facade.
In 1945, Italian businessman Natalio Michelizzi commissioned a builder named Juan Torres to construct this house as a private residence. Over time it drew more and more visitors and became a recognized landmark along the Uruguayan coast.
The name El Águila means "The Eagle" in Spanish, and the building takes that name literally by being carved into the shape of a creature that is half eagle and half dolphin. Visitors can walk around the exterior and read the animal forms directly in the stone.
The building sits on an exposed cliff, so wearing sturdy shoes is a good idea when walking around the outside. A staircase built into the structure leads down to the terrace and the beach below.
The large terrace that extends from the building is shaped like the prow of a ship and rests directly on the cliff rock rather than on a separate foundation. This platform juts out over the ocean and offers an open view of the water on three sides.
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