Carmelo, the only city founded by Jose Gervasio Artigas that is still standing, turned 200 years old this past February and remains fresh and renewed. Fall is an excellent time to rediscover it.
The city offers a wide range of hotels, including Hyatt's five-star facility which covers 300 hectares for enjoyment, featuring pools, restaurants, a golf course and a polo club, among other services.
Tourists also find other ideal sites for relaxation and the enjoyment of typical cuisine such as the Narbona Wine Lodge, the Campo Tinto Inn and the general store, Almacen de la Capilla.
Because of its proximity to Buenos Aires and its striking cultural and landscape qualities such as beautiful beaches on the Rio de la Plata, natural sailing conditions and relevant heritage values, the city of Carmelo has become a major tourist destination in the recent years.
One of the city's interesting aspects is its urban design. Carmelo is built on the two banks of a stream of water called Arroyo de las Vacas, and the only land connection between them is its emblematic Puente Giratorio (swing bridge), which is the most characteristic feature of the city. This is a great piece of engineering with over 100 years of history that allows the passage of large vessels by manual rotation. The bridge is the only human-powered swing bridge in all South America.
Another landmark of the city are the Jesuit ruins located on the Belen farm, known as the Calera de las Huerfanas; and the rural establishment of Narbona, the oldest building in Uruguay preserved in its original lines.
Next to the bridge, the city boasts the beautiful promenade Rambla de los Constitutyentes and the Carmelo Rowing Club, one of the most traditional institutions in this small city. From there, a singular tree-lined path leads to the yacht berth, and the quiet and cozy beach of Sere.
