Nueva Palmira - Photos: Pablo Etchevers The City of Nueva Palmira was founded on October 26, 1831 by Felipe Santiago Torres Leiva and is one of the most prosperous cities in the Department of Colonia. Its main activities revolve around its port, its fruit cold-store chamber and, of course, its agricultural production.
Its present population does not exceed 10 thousand inhabitants, but more and more people are fleeing the large cities and searching for their place in the world at Nueva Palmira.
Apart from being strategically located on the Uruguay River and opposite the mouth of the Paraná River, it borders on the City of Dolores to the North and on the City of Carmelo to the South, which stands 22 kilometers away. The City of Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, lies 280 kilometers to the East.
The climate at Nueva Palmira is temperate. Winters are cold and cloudy with foggy days and temperatures ranging between 5ºC and 10ºC. In the spring and the summer, the situation changes completely. Days are mild with average temperatures of 25ºC, which helps the river come alive.
The small city is accessed by land through Route 21, whereas Nueva Palmira welcomes Argentinian tourists coming through the river from the Port of Tigre (Buenos Aires) and the nearby Uruguayan Cities of Carmelo and Colonia del Sacramento.
Nueva Palmira is a real rest for visitors. It features the charm and the quietness of the inland areas of Uruguay and a great deal of attractions that turn this place into a must-visit, such as the port and its duty-free zone or Higueritas dock, one of the favorite sites amongst sailors to spend the night. And most of its sandy beaches are perfect to swim on warm summer days.
In the city, the sundial, the monument known as Fuente de los Españoles (Fountain of the Spaniards), the Eolo shipwreck (a boat which used to join the city with Montevideo) and General Flores Pier -one of the most modern in the country-, are some of the most outstanding sights. But the geographical landmark visitors should not miss is Punta Gorda (Fat Point). That is the spot where the Paraná River meets the Uruguay to give origin to the Río de la Plata.
All these characteristics justify a visit to Nueva Palmira. Whatever the season, here springtime is always in the air.
