Legislative Palace of Uruguay Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Legislative Palace of Uruguay
Palacio Legislativo del Uruguay

General information
Architectural style	Neo-classical architecture
Location	Montevideo, Uruguay
Construction started	1904
Completed	1925
Owner	General Assembly of Uruguay
Design and construction
Architect	Vittorio Meano Gaetano Moretti
Main contractor	G. y M. Debernardis

The Legislative Palace of Uruguay (which means "Legislative Palace of Uruguay" in Spanish) is a really important and grand building. It's where the General Assembly of Uruguay meets, which is like the main group of lawmakers for the Uruguayan government. You can find this impressive building in the Aguada neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay's capital city.

This palace was built between 1904 and 1925. It officially opened its doors on August 25, 1925. This date was special because it marked 100 years since Uruguay declared its independence! Later, in 1975, the government decided it was such an important place that they made it a National Historic Monument.

A Look Back: How the Palace Came to Be
The Palace's Amazing Design
- Inside the Palace: Grand Rooms
Images for kids
Learn More
See also

A Look Back: How the Palace Came to Be

In 1902, Uruguay's government decided they needed a new, bigger building for their lawmakers. Their old meeting place, the Montevideo Cabildo, wasn't big enough anymore. So, they held a worldwide competition to find the best design for a new building.

The winning design came from an Italian architect named Vittorio Meano. Sadly, he passed away suddenly before he even knew his design had won!

The actual construction of the palace began in 1904. President José Batlle y Ordoñez supported the project. The building was designed by Italian architects Vittorio Meano and Gaetano Moretti. They planned for the inside of the building to be covered in beautiful marble. A famous sculptor named José Belloni also helped, creating many detailed carvings and statues for the palace.

The palace officially opened on August 25, 1925, with President José Serrato leading the ceremony. Even though it opened then, the final decorations weren't finished until 1964.

The Palace's Amazing Design

The Legislative Palace looks like a mix of old Greek and Roman styles. Its outside walls, inside walls, ceilings, and columns are all covered with different kinds of marble found in Uruguay. It took almost 30 years to build this magnificent structure!

The palace has three large main rooms and many smaller rooms next to them. On an upper floor, you'll find the Library of the Legislative Power, which holds over 250,000 books! There are also offices for the lawmakers. In the basement, there are more offices, storage areas, and workshops for printing and binding documents. The main front of the building lines up perfectly with a big street called Libertador Avenue.

Inside the Palace: Grand Rooms

The Lobby of Honor

When you first enter the palace, you step into the Lobby of Honor. This room connects the main entrance to another grand area called the Hall of the Lost Steps. Here, you can see amazing artworks, like "The Oath of the Constitution 1830" by Pedro Blanes Viale. There are also two other famous paintings by Manuel Rosé: "Encounter of an Indian Centaur with the Hispanic Lion" and "The First Furrow."

The Hall of the Lost Steps

The beautiful Hall of the Lost Steps

In the middle of the palace is the Hall of the Lost Steps (which means "Hall of the Lost Steps" in Spanish). This hall was inspired by the grand cathedrals of the Renaissance period. It has two large arched ceilings and a skylight in the middle. This skylight separates the two main rooms where the Senate and the House of Representatives meet. The entrance to each of these meeting rooms has three colorful stained-glass windows shaped like a semicircle.

Guards protecting the Constitution

This hall is often used for art shows, concerts, and other special events. It has also been a place where important Uruguayan people, like former presidents and famous artists, have been honored after they passed away. For example, the poet Juana de Ibarbourou was given the title "Juana of America" here in 1929. The Hall of the Lost Steps also keeps the original copies of Uruguay's first Constitution from 1830 and the Declaration of Independence from 1825.

The Special Events Hall

This room is also known as the Party Hall. The artworks inside show important moments in Uruguayan history, such as "The Instructions of Year XIII" and "The Exodus of the Eastern People." You can also see portraits of famous leaders like Fructuoso Rivera, Manuel Oribe, and Juan Antonio Lavalleja. The ceiling of this hall is decorated with shiny highlights made from real 24-karat gold leaf!