Palacio Salvo (Salvo Palace), Montevideo

The Salvo Palace is one of the most important buildings for its cultural, historical, and architectural interest in Montevideo. It is located on the corner of Independence Square and the Avenue on the 18th of July. The building was designed by Italian architect Mario Palanti, and inaugurated in 1928. At the time, it was the tallest building in Latin America, 95 meters high, and continues to be one of the tallest buildings in the city.

Palanti's design inspiration was drawn from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. Mario Palanti also used this concept in the design of his Barolo Palace in Buenas Aires, Argentina. Salvo Palace, like Barolo Palace, is divided into three so-called sections: the lower floors- "Hell", the middle floors-"Purgatory", and the top floors-"Heaven."

The architectural style of the building is a kind of eclectic Art Deco combined with echos of Renaissance and Gothic elements and Neoclassical touches. It has become the symbol of the city, recalling the period of prosperity in the early years of the 20th century.

At present, the building houses separate apartments, offices, coffee and gift shops, and the Tango Museum of Montevideo. The Tango Museum is open to the public and exhibits the history of the famous tango "La Cumparsita" and the Uruguayan Tango.