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Square · Canelones, Canelones
Plaza 18 de Julio
Main plaza of Canelones, existing since the village's foundation. In the centre stands the Monumento a la Bandera, 16 metres high, a tribute to the first national flag, created in the city in 1828.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Plaza 18 de Julio
Plaza 18 de Julio has been the centre of the city of Canelones since the times of the Villa de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the settlement's original name. Following the Spanish custom, the plaza arose next to the first chapel at the end of the 18th century, and to this day it is the locals' meeting point, with markets, carnival and musical events.
In its centre stands the Monumento a la Bandera, known in the city as La Joaquina. The 16-metre statue, by local sculptor Juan Clemente D'Aniello, was built between 1934 and 1939. It represents a robed female figure with a sword in her right hand and the flag raised in her left, and also includes the image of Joaquín Suárez.
The tribute recalls that it was in Canelones, on 18 December 1828, that the Asamblea General Constituyente y Legislativa created the first national flag, at the initiative of provisional governor Joaquín Suárez, who was born in the region. That first version had nine sky‑blue stripes on a white field, one for each department at the time, and a sun in the corner next to the mast.
The village played an early political role: in 1813 José Artigas made it the capital of the Provincia Oriental. In December the city celebrates the creation of the flag with the Fiesta Nacional de la Bandera and the Pericón Federal, a traditional collective dance.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 20 to 40 minutes to walk around the plaza, see the monument up close and enter the cathedral next door.
Best time
In the morning or at late afternoon, when the plaza has local activity. In December, around the 18th, the city celebrates the creation of the flag with a festival and traditional dance.
How to get there
It is located in the centre of Canelones, between the streets José Enrique Rodó, José Batlle y Ordóñez, Tomás Berreta and Treinta y Tres. From Montevidéu it's about 45 to 50 km via Ruta 5. There are buses between the two cities.
Tip
Combine the plaza with the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on the same block before heading to Establecimiento Juanicó, about 12 km along Ruta 5 toward Montevidéu.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Plaza 18 de Julio
What is the Monumento a la Bandera de Canelones?
It is a 16-meter statue in the center of Plaza 18 de Julio, the work of Juan Clemente D'Aniello, built between 1934 and 1939. It honors the first national flag, created in the city in 1828.
Why is the monument called La Joaquina?
The popular nickname recalls Joaquín Suárez, the provisional governor who proposed the creation of the first national flag and whose image appears on the monument.
What was the first flag of Uruguay like?
It had nine light‑blue stripes on a white background, one for each department of the time, and a sun in the corner next to the mast.
Is it worth stopping in Canelones on the way to the wineries?
A short stop is worthwhile. The plaza and the cathedral are next to each other and can be seen in less than an hour, about 12 km from Establecimiento Juanicó.