Montevideo was founded in 1726 by Spanish colonists as a military base. It is the capital city of Uruguay. It is South of Las Piedras, along the Southern coast of Uruguay. It is deemed "best quality of life" of any Latin American city in 2006. This is because of tourism and an increase in economy. Tourism lies in the older portion of the city, this area is called Ciudad Vieja. Tourist attractions here include museums, night clubs, art galleries and historical buildings.