Perhaps a seemingly ordinary building, the Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos holds within its walls a history as rich and complex as Uruguay itself. The Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos is more than just a post office. It is a symbol of Uruguay’s connection to the world.
The Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos officially started on December 21, 1827. Luis de la Robla was its first administrator. The postal service grew quickly. A larger headquarters was needed by 1830. Political and economic events forced a move. The Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos moved to the Government Fort, the seat of the Executive Branch.
The Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos saw the introduction of the country’s first postal carriages in 1852. By 1856, the first postage stamp was issued. It showed “La Diligencia,” which means “The Stagecoach”. These stamps paid for mail carried by this new transport. The government renamed the postal service in 1877. It became the General Directorate and Administration of Mail.
The Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos joined the Union Internacional de Instituciones Postales in 1880. In 1911, it helped start the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain, and Portugal. The state took control of telephones and telegraphs in 1912. These were added to the General Administration of Mail. The name changed to the General Administration of Mail, Telegraphs, and Telephones. This new agency had a communications monopoly. Telephones and telegraphs were removed in 1931. In 1933, the agency became a directorate. It first reported to the Ministry of Industries and later to the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The General Directorate of Mail was reorganized in the 1990s. It regained its status as a decentralized entity. It was renamed the Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos. This change expanded its powers and services. It became a multimodal service platform.
Since 1925, the main office of the Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos has been in the Palacio de Correos de Montevideo. It is located in the Ciudad Vieja. In January 2016, customs officials made a ruling. Express postal packages from abroad worth less than 200 dollars were tax-free. Packages over 200 dollars were taxed. People could receive three tax-free shipments per year. Regular and EMS shipments required declarations via the Correo Uruguayo website.
The Administraci\u00f3n Nacional de Correos has a presence in all nineteen departments. It uses the National Postal Network. This is Uruguay’s largest physical network. It ensures the Universal Postal Service is provided.
The Palacio de Correos is architecturally significant. It has four stories on the Misiones street side. It has five stories on the Buenos Aires street side. The building is about 25 meters tall. A 63-meter tower rises above the main entrance. The corners of the building feature these towers. Marble from Carrara, Italy was used in its construction.
Inside, a large skylight covers the main hall. This provides natural light. A monument to Jos\u00e9 Gervasio Artigas stands in the center. Sculptor Carlos Mart\u00ednez created it. He was also a postal employee. Postal employees gifted the sculpture on June 19, 1960.
The Protocol Room is one of the building’s highlights. It once served as the office of the President of the Postal Administration. Today, it is used for ceremonial events. The room features a rococo style. Oak panels line the walls. A large stained-glass window shows a chasqui. This is a messenger delivering a message to an indigenous chief. The postal system is depicted. The Post Office of Peru gifted this piece. Sculptures adorn the main staircase. Cesar Miranda, the Director of Mail and Telegraphs, commissioned them in 1931. He wanted to showcase national art.
A Postal Museum operates within the building. It has a large collection about postal service and philately in Uruguay. The Palacio de Correos stands as a testament to time. It is still a place where messages from Uruguay to all over the world are sent.