Montevideo is Uruguay's capital, chief port, and by far its biggest city. It is considered a primate city. During World War II, a famous incident involving the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee took place in Montevideo, which was a neutral port during the war. After the Battle of the River Plate with the British navy on December 13, 1939, the Graf Spee retreated to the port. To avoid risking the crew in what he thought would be a losing battle, Captain Hans Langsdorff scuttled the ship on December 17. Langsdorff committed suicide two days later. During the mid-20th century, military dictatorship and monetary stagnation caused a decline whose lingering effects are still seen today. Many rural poor flooded the city, with a large concentration in Ciudad Vieja. Recently, economic recovery and stronger trade ties with Uruguay's neighbors have led to improved agricultural development and hopes for future riches. As of April 2006, Montevideo is ranked by Mercer Human Resource Consulting as the city in Latin America with the highest quality of life.
A place to visit in Montevideo is the castle of Castillo Pittamiglio. Now it is an historical museum so go see great architecture and view the history of this wonderful town.
Or go see the Museo de Juan Zorrilla de San Ma. This museum is the seaside home of this renowned Uruguayan writer and poet contains chapel inside.