Visiting Batlle Park
Batlle Park is a sprawling public green space in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. It takes its name from President José Batlle y Ordóñez, who served two terms leading the nation in the early 20th century.
History
In 1907, Pablo Nereo Gabriel Antonio Pereira petitioned the economic management council for a donation of 11 acres of land to establish a park. Carlos Thays, a French architect hired as the project's landscape designer, began planting in 1911. He would continue to develop the grounds as the project progressed.
In 1918, the site was renamed Parque de los Aliados (Allies Park) to commemorate the end of the war.
Following a bequest of land in his will by Antonio Pereira in 1930, the city expanded the park significantly. These grounds, combined with additional purchases by the local government, brought the park to its current size of 60 hectares (about 148 acres). It was also in 1930 that the area was officially named Parque Batlle y Ordóñez.
Inside Batlle Park
Batlle Park is one of the city's three major parks. It is large enough to house the Centennial Stadium, which has a capacity of 70,000 spectators. This stadium was built specifically for the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.
The area surrounding the park is lined with notable architecture. You will find the Hospital Británico (British Hospital), which has been a national heritage site since 1975, as well as the massive Hospital de Clínicas (University Hospital).
Other points of interest include the Comedor Universitario 2 (Student Dining Hall 2) and the Instituto de Higiene (Institute of Hygiene), both of which are officially designated national heritage sites.
On the western edge of the grounds, you will find the imposing Obelisk of Montevideo. This granite, three-sided monument stands 40 meters (about 131 feet) tall.
Batlle Park contains many other buildings and statues to discover as you walk along its tree-lined paths. It is a quiet escape that lets you momentarily forget you are in the middle of a bustling capital city.
Just like Parque Rodo, this is one of the parks locals love on Sundays, and it houses the Centenario Stadium. It is also nice for grabbing a bite to eat at lunchtime. Plus, it is a little bigger than Rodo.