Palacio Salvo — Attraction in Montevideo

Palacio Salvo (English: Salvo Palace) is a building at the intersection of 18 de Julio Avenue and Plaza Independencia in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was designed by the architect Mario Palanti, an Italian immigrant living in Buenos Aires, who used a similar design for his Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Finished in 1928, Palacio Salvo stands 100 m (330 ft) high with the antenna included. It was the tallest building in Latin America for a brief period.

The site was bought by the Salvo brothers for 650,000 Uruguayan pesos.It was built on the site where the Confiteria La Giralda was once located, a place renowned for being where Gerardo Matos Rodríguez wrote his tango La Cumparsita in 1917. At present, on that same historic site, inside Palacio Salvo, the Tango Museum of Montevideo is open to the public, and exhibits the history of La Cumparsita and of Uruguayan Tango.

The original specifications, describing the details of the construction, describe a lighthouse at the top of the building, which was replaced by a set of antennas. The specifications stated “on the top part of the tower a lighthouse will be placed made by Salmoiraghi of Italy, with a parabolic mirror of 920 mm (36 in), reaching approximately 100 km (62 mi), and a rotating 100 amp lamp.”

The building was originally intended to be a hotel, but this plan did not work out, and it has since been occupied by a mixture of offices and private residences. The building has a height of 95 m (312 ft). While the set of antennas was at its top, its total height was 100 m (330 ft). The antennas were permanently removed in...

Palacio Salvo is an iconic landmark in Montevideo and a must-visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the rich history of the city. This historic building not only offers incredible architecture but also provides one of the best views of Montevideo from its rooftop. The experience of seeing the city from such a high vantage point is truly breathtaking.

The building organizes guided tours during the day, each lasting around 45 minutes. Some tours are conducted in English, which is convenient for international visitors. However, tickets for these tours are only available in person, so you’ll need to show up to secure your spot. The tour takes you through the most significant floors of the building and ends with a visit to the rooftop, where the panoramic views are worth every moment.

One of the highlights of the tour is the Tango Museum located inside Palacio Salvo. It's fascinating to delve into the history of tango music and its cultural significance in the region. The museum adds an extra layer of depth to the visit, making it both educational and entertaining.

Overall, Palacio Salvo is a historical gem that combines stunning architecture, cultural enrichment, and spectacular views. It’s an experience that captures the essence of Montevideo and is highly recommended for history and culture...

Beautiful building and I do think the guided tour is worth it! The tour lasted about an hour, and we learned about the history of the building and the family who ordered its construction, we went to the very top where there is an observation deck, before working our way down and seeing various points of interest, and finishing at the tango museum, which is small but lovely.

Since there’s minimal info online about the tours: the entrance for the tours is in the building. I don’t think you can book in advance. You go to the entrance beside the coffee shop, on Plaza independence, close to Avendia 18 de Julio. The entrance looked like a residential entrance but concierge will point you to the tour booth (it’s right beside the concierge). It was $400, and you could pay with cash or card. Tours run hourly, but on Thursdays (when I was there) they only had two public offerings, as Thursdays are reserved for...