How did a peaceful neighborhood in Montevideo get a name like “The Commercial”? Right now, we are standing in La Comercial, a barrio with a history as rich as its name is ironic. It all began in the late 19th century. La Comercial started as a tranquil area of farms and vineyards, attracting mostly Italian immigrants seeking a new life. These hardworking individuals tilled the land, their lives a world away from the bustling commerce the barrio’s name might suggest. The name La Comercial actually originated from a real estate company. Around 1870, this company, ironically named “La Comercial,” began dividing and selling plots of land in the area. This marked the start of the transformation from a peaceful countryside to a residential neighborhood. Today, La Comercial retains some of that original peacefulness. Many of the houses, mostly single-story structures, stand as a testament to those early years. As you wander through La Comercial, take a moment to imagine those first Italian immigrants. Picture them tending their vineyards under the Uruguayan sun, their lives a far cry from the name their neighborhood would eventually bear.
Santuario de la Medalla Milagrosa y San Agustín
The cornerstone rests undisturbed. It whispers tales of 1896. This is the Santuario de la Medalla Milagrosa y San Agustin.