Villa Soriano

History

In 1624, a Franciscan Mission established a village for the indigenous tribes of the area named Santo Domingo de Soriano. It constituted the first permanent European settlement on Uruguayan soil, predating the foundation of Colonia del Sacramento by more than fifty years. It was moved to its current location in 1708. The construction of its church began in 1751. The town has strong associations with General José Gervasio Artigas, who is honoured by Uruguayans as the 19th century liberator of the country.

Geography

It is located on the northwest end of Route 96, on the south bank of the river Río Negro, before it discharges into Río Uruguay.

Most-observed species

• Great Kiskadee

  Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  178
• Rufous Hornero

  Furnarius rufus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  176
• Monk Parakeet

  Myiopsitta monachus (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  164
• Red-crested Cardinal

  Paroaria coronata (J.F.Miller, 1776) · Aves
  150
• Southern Lapwing

  Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782) · Aves
  149
• Eared Dove

  Zenaida auriculata (Des Murs, 1847) · Aves
  145
• Rufous-collared Sparrow

  Zonotrichia capensis (P.L.S.Müller, 1776) · Aves
  144
• Picui Ground-Dove

  Columbina picui (Temminck, 1813) · Aves
  126