History of Minas

"The population should rise in the best and most advantageous terrain of that Parish of Minas..."; reads the document that contains the instructions to proceed with the settlement of a village in the area known as the "Mines of San Francisco", a gentle Valley, surrounded by green hills, and enclosed by a aggressive horizon, stony and trimmed. Forty homes of rough stone walls were the foundational habitats.

The villa was diagrammed in strict compliance with the laws of the Indies Reign, and its construction was made possible by the work of servants of the Crown and the help of the Indians Tapes. As early as April 1784, the town functioned as such, socially organized, with a contingent of Asturian and Galician families. A square, framed by four alleys; the traditional church and a cemetery... The "Villa de la Concepcion de las Minas", was born.

In the year 1837 is officially created the Department of Minas, which was then renamed the Department of LAVALLEJA in 1927; in honor of the Commander of the Orientals and son of this area, the Liberator General Juan Antonio Lavalleja.

Minas Cathedral our Lady immaculate conception

The early church was on the same site as on today. its first book parish, starts the of August of 1783, with the baptism of the child Lorenzo Belos; being the first priest Fray José Agustín Ramos. The funerals for book opened on 22 August of that year, upon the death of the same child. The book of marriage (certificates), was opened on January 3, 1784, to celebrate the marriage of Pedro Caballero and Ana María. To Fray Agustín Ramos will follow in May 1874, Fray Tomás Charruca, who will baptize  Juan Antonio Lavalleja, born on 24 June of that same year.

In 1805 was erected parish, being the first Priest Juan Ximénez and Ortega. Since that year the priest Domingo Alemán worked actively in the construction of a new Church, which was inaugurated on December 14, 1845. It was located next to the police headquarters, was built as provisional and served for 47 years. In time of the presbyter Berrel, a Commission was formed that should continue the works of the temple which was inaugurated on April 10, 1892, celebrating a mass with the presence of the Priest José De Luca, with the attendance of 1,500 people. It was named Cathedral when was established the bishopric of Minas, being the first bishop Monsignor José Ma. Caballero, who died on May 29, 1963, succeeding Martín Pérez as Vicar Capillary.

It is a building of sober neo-classic lines and its location is linked to the axis of the main square by an entrance avenue. The interior is very sober, its altar and the pulpit were object of reforms and not successful changes from the point of view of historical preservation.  Our cathedral has the peculiarity of not being situated in front of the main square, but separated from it and linked by a wide alley, which categorizes it and singularizes it at the same time.

Libertad Square - Monument to the Brig. Gral. Juan Antonio Lavalleja 

On  June 18 of the year 1900 was signed the contract for the sum of $12,000 with the sculptor Juan Manuel Ferrari, for the execution of the equestrian statue to General Lavalleja in the freedom square of Minas.

On 1 August of the same year, the Administrative Economic Board agrees to the demolition of the statue of liberty installed in the Plaza del Recreo (of the Recreation Centre), which would be replaced by the bronze of Ferrari. On August 25^th of the same year was placed the cornerstone on the 75th Anniversary of the National Independence by signing the then President of the Commission Horacio Albistur, the Act by which gave bona fide in relation to the Act. On August 23, 1902 was cast in the bronze of the statue, the first in the country, by Cossentino in his workshop in Washington Street, in his furnace were boiled the 3,000 kilos of bronze. And finally on 12 October of 1902 was inaugurated the first equestrian statue raised in the Republic, - the Lavalleja – at 77^th  year of the anniversary of of the Battle of Sarandi, work of the sculptor Juan Manuel Ferrari who was 26 years old when the Commission entrusted him with the task.

To the celebrations attended a total of 2,200 people, the birthplace of Lavalleja received a high volume of visitors. At the commemorative ceremony the Secretary of the Commission of the monument Juan Zeballos and Maguna took the podium, the hymn Lavalleja was sung by children, three girls were placed artistic wreaths on the pedestal of the monument and white pigeons were released. Then, after the chime of bells, the political Chief, Commander Estanislao Mendoza and Duran, and the President of the Commission, Horacio Albistur discovered the Monument of Lavalleja. Later the Dr. Juan Zorrilla de San Martín, occupied the rostrum and pronounced one of the most beautiful prayers.

On June 12, 1916 the Administrative Board decided to remove the fence surrounding the monument. On October 12, 2002 were held celebrations in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the monument in Minas.

Lavalleja Theatre 

It was inaugurated on December 8^th, 1909, as part of the Festival's tribute to the Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción with the presence of musicians, poets and writers. 

Building erected by the Catholic Union of Uruguay. Great construction, of austere bare brick, with two orders of balconis very spacious, regular stage, with ample stall. Triumph of the architect Buïgas Monravà, talented Catalan, who conceived and directed the work.

After many years of neglect, where the time doengraded it almost to ruins, was completely restored and re inaugurated on August 24, 1989. Today is the stage for major concerts and plays, running in the same place the "Museum of humor and cartoon", unique in Latin America.

Confectionery Irisarri 

Silent witness to the passage of time, the Confectonery Irisarri, located facing the Libertad Square, was established in the year 1898, when the Catalan Cristóbal Carbonell began to cook and sell breads and artisan masses.

In 1898 the business was acquired by Manuel Irisarri who built the solid foundations of one of the most typical places of Minas. Lavalleja is synonymous of Irisarri and of its typical serranitos, damasquitos, egg yolks, and alfajores. Along with his eponymous Gallery, it is a point and meeting of the minuana society and tourists who visit their original cellars. The basement of the confectionery was called "the cellar" by Manuel Irisarri, referring to a simple pantry. There stands a water tank where the water was obtained for the preparation of the products. It also has a room of rustic wood with a table with dishes with the names of the Apostles.

One hundred years later, in 1998, the Confectionery Irisarri celebrated the century of its foundation by making outdoors, in the same square, a giant cake that shared with all the people.

Monument to General José Gervasio Artigas - Artigas Hill

Work of the national artist, Sculptor Setillo Belloni.

Sketches of the work were created by the artist himself and his father the illustrious José Belloni. The sculpture was opened on October 19^th,  1974, at the top of the Ventura Hill, which was later renamed Artigas Hill. 

The monument is 280 meters above the sea level and withstands winds up to 220 kilometers per hour and its height is 10 meters by 9 of width excluding the base. It has a weight of 135,000 Kilogrames and was built with reinforced concrete (like Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro), carrying plaster, and bronze in the belly of the horse.

It was declared a national historic landmark, and is claimed to be the highest equestrian monument of South America, and one of the largest in the world. The General Artigas is set in a serene gesture, of unique nobility looking to his people, which pays homage to its feet every year in the traditional night of the campfires, with the popular song "A Don José" in occasion of the week of Lavalleja.

Virgin of Verdun

A 6 Kilometers of Minas, by Route 12, with a height of 360 meters above the sea level it is the Verdun Hill. Its name is inherited from the first settler of the area, Juan Bautista Berdum, by what locals called it Verdun of the Hill. 

Situated at the top is the statue of the “Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción”, by the initiative of the parish priest of Minas, Don José De Luca, who embraces the idea of placing the image of the Virgin Mary in one of the hills surrounding the city, to the year 1900.

The inauguration took place on Sunday, April 21, 1901, accompanied by a great pilgrimage of faithful followers that arrived from all around the country.  More than 100 years have passed, but the Virgin of the Verdún continues, all the 19 April, attracting thousands of pilgrims who worship her and her image, on the top of the Hill.

OSE Dam - Ing. Carlos Maggiolo 

The project of a water purification plant and the pumping for the city of Minas was approved in January 1933 by the National Council, in agreement with the Ministry of Public Works. This power plant was inaugurated in 1934 under the name of Engineer Carlos Maggiolo. 

Currently, en addition of working water treatment plant of OSE, is an obliged walk of visitors, to enjoy the wonderful landscape; the bridge and the spectacular artificial lake of the dam, which is perfect concentration of fishermen, amateurs and professionals.

Gold Mine

The first news of the existence of precious minerals in this land seem to have been originated by a French adventurer called Petitvenit, around forty years before the Foundation of the "Villa de la Concepcion de las Minas". This man toured part of the region of the current Cuchilla Grande, and surrounding areas to our valley and hills, back in the Decade of 1740, and forwarded to Spain what seemed to be, in his view samples of gold and precious stones.

The Crown of Spain, avid as it was for new sources of wealth, decided to commission the Colonel of Dragones Antonio de Escurruchea, who was originally going to Potosí, to verify the assertion of Petitvenit. It was apparently true, since a few years later, more precisely in 1751, the King of Spain decreed aid to the Montevideo locals, that wished to explore deposits in the area.

Back in the year 1760 our mountains come arrive at Don Cosme Alvarez, neighbor of Montevideo, Spanish entrepreneur and stubborn, determined on the journey, it was decided to dedicated himself entirely in pursuit of the dream, the eternal illusion of the treasure hunters: find the vein that, rather than make him a rich man, could transform his life, and make tangible his dream. Don Cosme performed the first surveys in the surroundings of, for those times non-existent village... and gave up five or six years later, without having achieved his dream. Later, in the vicinity some deposits were located, with the ones of Campanero Chico and El Soldado, but the most promising was located in which today is known as mines Arrospide or more popularly called "Minas De Oro".

At the location was proved the existence of gold-bearing quartz, with a tenor of nine grams of the precious metal per tons, value that made the extraction profitable. Years later were others who prospect the mine, starting the today called the Skull Well. The excavation is located about seven kilometers east of the center of the city of Minas, and years later was acquired by Mr. Arrospide, from who picked up its popularity. At the mentioned Skull Well and when reached a depth of 14 meters, it began to extend a network of galleries and new wells that in 1938, already exceeded thousand meters of extension.

It was in this year that the work was suspended, leaving the place abandoned for decades. Passing the years, and facing the danger that presented some galleries precariously beamed and with the wells flooded, the State agency that leased, UTE, decides to filling its entry to prevent accidents to adventurers who were always exploring the area. But the passion for the adventure eventually succeed and later on was restored.

Some galleries were reinforced, and a network of lighting was installed so that the public could visit it. Thus the first tourists of the modern era were thrilling at the sight of the auriferous quartz that shined on the walls, and quietly listening the old silent booming echoes of wagons arriving from the depths of the tunnels, loading more than stones, hope...

House of the Culture - Museums

The "Casa de la Cultura", is seat of several Museums, and in its interior is still maintained the birthplace of the hero Juan Antonio Lavalleja. 

Under the same infrastructure function several Museums, the Municipal Library, as well as rooms exhibition and an amphitheater with capacity for 300 people.

Museum Eduardo Fabini . Instruments and original scores of the great Uruguayan musician.

Museum of Juan José Morosoli. Belongings and hand writing of the writer

Museum of the City. Clothing and utensils belonging to families of ancient roots in the city

Museum of Santiago Dossetti. Possessions and manuscripts of that minuano academic by adoption 

Museum of stones and of El Gaucho

Regional Museum of the Casa de la Cultura 

Address: Lavalleja and José E. Rodó Telephones: 4442 2010 - 4442 8629