Peach (Uruguay)

Durazno is a Uruguayan city, capital of the department of the same name. It is located in the center of the country, on the left bank of the Yi River, a tributary of the Negro River, and at the confluence of national routes 5 and 14.

History

It was founded by the Portuguese in 1821 under the name Villa San Pedro del Durazno, in homage to the Brazilian emperor of that time. Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal. General Fructuoso Rivera gave it importance by making it the national capital under his presidential mandate, shortly after the republic was born. The town of San Pedro del Durazno was elevated to the category of city by government decree dated June 13, 1906.

Population

According to the 2011 census, the city has a population of 34,572 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census.

Economy

It is the urban center of a livestock and agricultural region, and fulfills the commercial and transforming function of these products through the meat and flour industry, mainly.

The passage of the Yí River, through two large bridges, has been essential for this city, which became a traditional communications hub in the center of the country. On the right bank of the Yí, a town, Santa Bernardina, has grown, stimulated by the creation of an alternative airport to the Carrasco International Airport (Santa Bernardina International Airport).

Culture

The church of San Pedro de Durazno is an icon of this city. After a fire it was redesigned by the engineer Eladio Dieste in reinforced brick. Located in front of the Plaza Independencia where the monument to Columbus is located, which together with the Church are precisely peach identification par excellence.

Interior of the church San Pedro designed by the engineer Eladio Dieste.

Dr's house. Emilio Penza

In the cultural field, a folkloric festival of national and international relevance has been held since the 1970s, which has featured figures such as León Gieco, Rubén Rada, Jaime Roos and Soledad Pastorutti, among others.

The first mentioned festival was on February 9, 1973 and its name "National Folklore Festival" "All of Uruguay Sings in Durazno"".

Since 1966, the First Calls of the Interior have also been held in Durazno, in which candombe troupes parade in competition for three places in the Carnival Calls in Montevideo.

Lately it has gained national importance, especially among young people, due to the massive Pilsen Rock, started in 2003, where in 2005 15,000 young people were present enjoying bands like No Te Va Gustar, La Vela Puerca, La Abuela Coca and La Trampa, among others.

Tourism

General House Museum Fructuoso Rivera.

The city has a rich historical heritage, revealing an essentially European architecture among its streets, highlighting the House of Emilio Penza, the Municipality of Durazno, the House of Fructuoso Rivera, the Church of San Pedro, among many other houses of epoch. In Durazno there is also a large and dense native forest on the banks of the Yí River, in which Camping 33 Orientales is located, a place where tourists and even the residents themselves camp and carry out activities in the summer. In front of the campsite is the beach "El Sauzal" which is characterized by the criollo willows that grow there.

The Hispanidad Park, located in the southern part of the city, is another natural place that has wide pastures and small trees.

On the outskirts of the city, the cave paintings near the Maestre Campo and Chamangá streams stand out, as well as the Farruco Chapel, one of the oldest colonial buildings in Uruguay.

Featured citizens

• Emilio Penza, doctor and writer.
• Fructuoso Rivera, first constitutional president of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay.
• Barnabé Michelena, sculptor.
• Ignacio Ithurralde, ex-futbolist and coach.
• Juan Ramón Carrasco, soccer player.
• Antonio Alzamendi, soccer player.
• Jorge Villazán, soccer player.
• Alfonso Domínguez, footballer.
• Rosina Sosa, actress and theatre director.