Colossal

This enormous building dominates the lower part of the Old City of Montevideo, Uruguay. There was no signage or other clues of it purpose on the side we saw. Its fortress-like construction suggested it involved money, banking, or weapons.

 

I was partly right. Searching for it on Google Earth, I learned it is the Banco República.

 

Wikipedia says:

 

Casa Central del Banco República is a building, seat of the administration of the Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay. It is located in Ciudad Vieja of Montevideo, Uruguay.

 

The building is the work of Italian architect Giovanni Veltroni and was inaugurated on 19 February 1938, ten years after the approval for its construction. The sculptures of its facade are the work of Uruguayan sculptor Juan Zorrilla de San Martín and were inaugurated in 1940 and 1950. An expansion of the third floor and restructuring of the base floor were done in 1953.

 

The building is one of the notable architectural sights of the Ciudad Vieja and is a National Heritage Site since 1975.

 

 

Done