Taranco Palace

The Taranco Palace, located in the heart of Montevideo's Old City (Ciudad Vieja), is a magnificent example of early 20th-century architecture and an important cultural center. The building was designed between 1907 and 1910 by French architects Charles-Louis Girault and Jules-Léon Chifflot, the same architects responsible for the Petit Palais in Paris. It was commissioned by the brothers Félix, José, and Hermenegildo Ortiz de Taranco, wealthy local merchants, to be their private residence. The palace is built in a late 19th-century French eclectic style inspired by the Louis XV style. Its opulent interiors feature European marble, oak parquet floors, silk wallpaper, and furniture largely imported from Europe. In 1943, the Uruguayan state acquired the palace, and in 1972 it became the headquarters of the Museum of Decorative Arts. Today, the museum showcases the Taranco family's original furnishings as well as a significant collection of European paintings, sculptures, and classical archaeology, offering a window into the luxurious lifestyle of the Uruguayan upper class at the turn of the 20th century.

Nearby cities

Montevideo

Montevideo is the capital and largest city of Uruguay.

History & landmarks

Taranco Palace

An elegant French-style palace in the Old City that houses the Museum of Decorative Arts.

Port Market

A historic market hall in the Old City of Montevideo, famous for its barbecue restaurants.

Metropolitan Cathedral

The main Catholic church in Montevideo, located on the Plaza de la Constitución.

Solís Theatre

The oldest theatre in Uruguay, playing an important role in the cultural life of Montevideo.

Mausoleum of José Gervasio Artigas

An impressive mausoleum in Plaza Independencia housing the remains of the national hero.

Palacio Salvo

This iconic building on Plaza Independencia was once the tallest in South America.

Santos Palace

The headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, an impressive historic building in Montevideo.

Telecommunications Tower

A modern skyscraper and the tallest building in Uruguay, used by Antel.

More places

Lavalleja's House

The colonial residence of Juan Antonio Lavalleja, a national hero of Uruguay, which now serves as a museum.

House of Fructuoso Rivera

The former residence of the first president of Uruguay, now an important branch of the National Historical Museum.

Cabildo of Montevideo

The historic city hall where the first constitution of Uruguay was signed in 1830.

Port Market

A historical market hall in Montevideo from 1868 with an impressive iron structure.

Port of Montevideo

Uruguay's largest seaport, handling the majority of its foreign trade.

Solís Theatre

The oldest and most important theater in Uruguay, opened in 1856 with classical architecture.

Montevideo Free Port

A special customs zone within the Port of Montevideo allowing logistics and goods handling without import taxes.

Gateway of the Citadel

One of the few remaining parts of the city wall that protected colonial Montevideo.