When our cruise ship shore excursion stopped at Plaza Independencia (see my review, "Montevideo's dividing line"), I thought the towering equestrian statue in the center of the plaza was just that, no more than an impressive statue. Only later did I learn this is a mausoleum honoring Jose Gervasio Artigas Arnal, "the father of Uruguyan nationhood." (Ramps on the side take you to an underground museum where Artigas' urn is displayed on a marble slab.) Even our view of the statue was disrupted, though: scaffolding and crowd-control measures were still up from the inauguration of the new Uruguayan president a few days before.

Under the Jose Artigas monument in Plaza Independencia lie his remains. There are ramps on the side on the monument that go to the underground mausoleum. There are guards there during opening times from 9-5 PM. There is an urn with his remains on a marble slab. On the walls are important dates in his life. Photos allowed.

Most visitors are not even aware that there is a mausoleum beneath the famous statue of the Uruguayan national hero - Jose Artigas. There were no signs that I found but there is a walkway leading down that you take that gets you to the entrance. It's a somber and respectful place. It's not an amusement park but it's a place of history.

In the heart of Old City. It is a place one must visit when in Montevideo. The Mausoleum is very nice. It's clean, spacious, guarded at all times, safe. It's in the middle of Plaza Independencia. I did not find wheelchair access, but it could have been hidden.

The Artigas Mausoleum is accessible by two wide marble stairways that take you UNDER Plaza Independencia. The area reminds me of the dignity of the underground in Moscow.

One will see representations, expressions to, and artifacts and statues of Jose Artigas throughout the city of Montevideo. Centrally featured in the Plaza Independencia is a Statue to recognize him. Adjacent you will find stairs leading down to an immense underground memorial dedicated to his influence through the decades of Uruguayan History. Also guarded by two fully dressed soldiers is his remains.

Located below the equestrian statue of Artigas in Plaza Independencia (take the stairs on either side). The room itself is very dark and there are two honour guards next to the urn. This space is a quick visit if you're already in the area.

This is a somber memorial dedicated to one of the people that was responsible for Uruguayan Independence. The mausoleum is directly underneath a huge statue in Independence Plaza.

The Mausoleum is a monument to Uruguayan hero José Artigas, the father of Uruguay, and is located in Plaza Independencia. It was constructed in the 1930s and the General's remains are kept in an underground room underneath the statue. The monument is guarded by a traditional guard called "Blandegues de Artigas". The statue pays tribute to the General who fought for the independence of Uruguay. General Artigas was an important figure in the context of Hispanic American revolutions, mainly because he was ahead of his time in terms of policy and society. There is no doubt he was an extraordinary figure recognized by historians all over the world. Unfortunately , a visit to the mausoleum was not included in our tour schedule.

A visit to the mausoleum of the founder of Uruguay is like Americans visiting George Washington's grave. Show respect for this great man who history remembers for his leadership. The interior is beautiful and the changing of the guard a treat to watch.