In spite its small size, Uruguay holds an impressive legacy of artistic and literary traditions. The contribution of its various conquerors in the first place and then its immigrants, has resulted in a national culture that integrates diversity and preserves centuries of antiquity in some of the colonial fortresses that still remain. For such a reason, its cities possess a rich architectural patrimony and also a considerable number of artists, writers and musicians.
 
Many of these traditions have origin in Europe, but they have evolved with their own twists of local color in its theatre, concerts, festivals and other artistic manifestations.
 
Its literature is one of the richest of Latin America. Among its main authors are Horacio Quiroga, José Enrique Rodó, the poet Juana de Ibarbourou, Eduardo Galeano, Juan Carlos Onetti or the great exponent Mario Benedetti, painters Pedro Figari, Jose M. Blanes, sculptor Jose Belloni, whose works can be found in many places of Montevideo city reflecting scenes of Uruguayan past with great realism.
 
Inland, we find the culture of the gaucho, the cowboys of South America. To this day, gauchos wear the same traditional dress as generations ago. Completed with its own music and dance, this gaucho culture is about pride and dignity, individual integrity, and national identity.
 
If you are looking for arts and crafts, Uruguayans are excellent in creating the most beautiful handcrafted leather goods. Homegrown leather is transformed into belts, boots, hats, and purses. Uruguayans are also renowned for their handmade woolen items, especially woolen sweaters. Likewise, it has varied typical ceramic crafts.
 
The most distinctive music of the River Plate region is the tango (and its little sister, the milonga), but Uruguay also possesses exclusive rhythms as the candombe and the murga, which have received influence of Africa. This kind of music is at its height during the Carnival season.
 
The Carnival is the party par excellence in Uruguay, with forty days of duration it is considered to be the longest of the world. It is estimated that the carnival, in only one month, sells more tickets than all the rest, both sports and cultural spectacles together, including football, the most popular sport in the country.