Piriápolis

Piriápolis

Piriápolis is a city in Uruguay's Maldonado department, which is an important summer resort in the country, ahead of the larger and more well-known resort town of Punta del Este. As it is used primarily as a resort, it has a fairly small permanent population for a city of its size. Piriápolis was established on 5 November 1890 as El Balneario del Porvenir, meaning The Resort of the Future. The main attraction of the city is the Rambla de los Argentinos, a waterfront promenade in the city center. Piriápolis, with its tourism-centric economy, has lavish hotels, large casinos, active nightlife and public parks. The Templo de San Antonio, located on top of a hill around the city, can be reached by a chairlift with panoramic views of the coast. The port of Piriápolis offers boat trips and saltwater fishing. An attractive spot for the more adventurous travelers is the Cerro Pan de Azúcar, which is 10 km from the city and the third highest point in Uruguay. The summit is a challenging climb and there is also a nature reserve on the mountain. Also, near Piriápolis is the Castle of Piria, where the poet Julio Herrera y Reissig lived for a time.