The Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, highlighted the carnivals of Artigas and Bella Unión as popular festivals that constitute a tourist attraction and provide offers to the northern region of the country. The hierarch said that the department, in addition to Carnival, offers other charms when it comes to discovering and vacationing, since visitors can complement their experience with mining tourism options and natural spaces.
Viera affirmed that in the Carnival of Artigas and Bella Unión one can see the “cultural syncretism” in a geographical region with contributions from the south of Brazil, Argentina and the Uruguayan “idiosyncrasy”. He added that both demonstrations are characterized by the “professionalism” of the groups that work throughout the year to stage the festivities.
At a press conference, he invited Uruguayans to get to know Artigas and maintained that it is not just carnival. The offer of the department is complemented by mining tourism, which stands out for the extraction of semi-precious stones of agates and amethysts and is complemented by nature tourism, such as the protected areas of Valle del Lunarejo, in Rivera; and the Thermal Corridor on the Uruguay River.
From the commune and the Federation of Samba Schools of Artigas (Fedesa) they estimate that some 20,000 spectators will arrive every day, and announced that the 2023 edition will be held in the departmental capital between February 18 and 21.
Each of the seven samba schools that compete in the event, plus two other guests, bring together close to a thousand members and parade along Carlos Lecueder avenue, the city’s main avenue.
As he valued, due to its format similar to the Rio de Janeiro festivity, the one in Artigas is considered a mini Rio de Janeiro in Uruguay, and due to the contribution of renowned figures to the Artiguense festival.
In the weeks prior to the parade, the schools will carry out rehearsals open to the public, in addition, Fedesa performs the election of the official court and the drum show.
For its part, the Bella Unión Carnival, organized by the commune and the Bella Unión Samba School League, will take place between February 17 and 19.
During the three nights of the parade, the mayor has the closure of four blocks of General José Gervasio Artigas avenue, attended by some 20,000 people from different parts of the country, Brazil and Argentina.
Viera was accompanied by Undersecretary Remo Monzeglio; the Minister of the Interior, Luis Alberto Heber; the mayor of Artigas, Pablo Caram; the president of the Federation of Samba Schools of Artigas, Claudia Pereira; and the head of the Bella Unión Samba School League, Álvaro Silveira.
