Tours and Activities:

Dead Calm

When thinking about Nueva Palmira, the expression “dead calm” (used to refer to the river when it is completely still) turns out to be the best way to evoke the atmosphere of this dreamed-of city.

When visiting Nueva Palmira, everything else is left aside, at least for a while. Nestled there, on the banks of the Uruguay, the first thing visitors notice as they approach its shores is a large port of cereal, fruit and various products, a modern T-shaped pier and a waterfront promenade so picturesque that at times it looks like the City of Punta del Este, opposite solitary Gorriti Island.

But it is an illusion. We are at a Uruguay River that is getting ready to give birth to the Río de la Plata. It also has solitary islands, vestiges of shipwrecks and stories and legends of sailors waiting to be told at any pub or coffee-shop in this small but coquettish city.

No sooner the boat is moored, than the mate is the first instance proving the warmth of its people -“the palmirenses”-, who spend their free time watching the calm of the beautiful river only interrupted by some boat approaching Higueritas Creek, the favorite amongst sailors.

Here lies the origin of this booming city, as on October 26, 1831, a priest and a group of colonists resolved to settle down for good around the mouth of this creek and called their new home “Nueva Palmira”.

The name comes from one of the travelers of those days in the country (don Torres Leivas), who had heard about a small Middle-eastern city where all the rivers met. Its name was Palmira. Hence, “Nueva Palmira”, this time for a city on American soil.


Vigor and Progress

In addition to having the most important and productive inland port, the city grew through the development of other industries, such as fishing, agriculture and cattle raising, which fostered constant human settlement.

Today, Palmira has a steady population of almost 10 thousand people who walk along its main streets like in every big city, but who also take some time to go to the local library, to church or enjoy some mate at 33 Square, Artigas Square or by the river.

A casino and an interesting paleontological museum housing dinosaur fossils from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic Ages are very popular local attractions both for tourists and local residents.

Opposite the waterfront, it is possible to see the time given by the sundial built in 1981 by the Italian community to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the city. A few meters away, there is a perfect replica of the Mayo Pyramid standing in the center of Mayo Square in Buenos Aires (Argentina). It was built and located here as a tribute to the May Revolution in 1810.

At the end of this promenade, there is a nautical camping site, one of the most traditional in the city due to its golden sandy beaches, ideal to practice summer sports.

The remains of an old shipwreck may be admired from the shore, especially when the river is calm, windless and the tide is low. “Eolo” (Spanish for Aeolus, god of the winds) was the name of the boat that sailed since 1924 until she shipwrecked in 1932.

Walking down its streets, visiting its stores, seeing a movie at its old cinema or a play presented by a group called Depalmira Teatro turn every stay at Nueva Palmira into an unforgettable experience. A city where nature and history have held hands for ever.

See also: Hotels in Nueva Palmira and other accommodation venues