Ola Uruguay Real Estate and Investments

Colonia Suiza (also known as Nueva Helvecia) in the south west of Uruguay is a charming village of barely 10,000 dwellers founded by Swiss immigrants. Its main square is the most beloved place among the community of Nueva Helvecia. Here the elderly spend long hours drinking mate and reminiscing about the time when they were children and climbed up the square’s famous monument. The “monument”, as it is simple called by the locals is a sculpture made of granite that commemorates the Swiss immigrants who founded the town.

Every year on August 1st, the city celebrates the Swiss Festival—a tradition that has been held ever since the first immigrants made this their home. These festivities grow in popularity every year. Traditional Swiss singing and dance are combined with cooking and tasting of the most traditional and delicious Swiss dishes. The recipes have been maintained intact and passed from generation to generation. Some of these delicacies include the famous Colonia cheese and the traditional hard cheese. Families prepare exquisite fondues, the famous Swiss potato, or apple strudels to delight younger palates.

Evangelical and Catholic churches contribute to the city’s architecture. There is a railway station, a cultural center housing the regional archives and museum, a shooting club, a flower clock, an aero club, a burnt-down mill, and some hotels from the early twentieth century, such as the Nirvana, the Suizo and Del Prado, and the famous Helvetian Cinema.

If you take a trip here, don’t forget to pack your swimsuits. Nueva Helvecia’s beaches are popular during the summer season. Some of its more reputable beach resorts nearby include Los Pinos, Fomento, Zanja Honda, Azul, and Britópolis.

The information in this article has been reproduced here with the permission of www.welcomeuruguay.com.