Explained in promotions of the hotel "was not built for profit, but to satisfy the desire of its owner, who patriotically wanted in his country be given the highest mark in construction and furnishing of hotels". Piria himself said in advertisements for its inauguration (which took place on December 24, 1930):

"It is not the second among all major hotels spas in the world. It is the first: the most colossal, most complete and more comfortable. (...) It will be many decades before in all of South America has one the same kind."

On January 25, 1942 the Argentine Hotel igoes to public auction to collect inheritance taxes as well. Pass to the State in 1946 and since 1958 the hotel was under the Department of Tourism and was "modernized." Since the early 70's is administered in the form of concession, by the company Méndez Requena. Today, except for the first claim, it is still an admirable work, and possibly the best tourist hotel in Uruguay.

Chronology of His Work

1847. Born in Montevideo on August 21 on the street Treinta y Tres between Cerrito and Piedras. Legitimate child of Lorenzo and Serafina Piria Grossi, both Genoese. His grandfather Jose Piria commanded the frigate called "Conception", which made trips to the Rio de la Plata from 1810. His father, true to family tradition made repeated trips to Montevideo on the ship "Francis Joseph" until he settled permanently in Montevideo.

1890. At 45 Piria buys 2700 blocks from the Pan de Azúcar Mountain to the sea. Plant trees of different species trying to contain the dunes.

1897. He is finishing the Castle, his particular residence.

1898. Repeated invasions of locusts destroys all its plantations. At that time stands as a symbol of faith and hope the Christ the Redeemer, located between the Castle and the Cerro del Toro. Place of geological separation, ends the granites and porphyries start.

1905. Inaugurated the first Grand Hotel, now holiday camp.

1913. Begins to run the picturesque railway between Pan de Azúcar and the resort.

1912. Make the first auctions of lots of Piriápolis in Buenos Aires and Montevideo simultaneously.

1916. The new port is finished.

1918. Make a big promotional campaign in Buenos Aires of the resort investing in it 15 000 pesos. (Post a brochure alluding to the beauty and benefits of climate Piriápolis).

1920. Inauguration of large tourist infrastructure: Rambla de los Argentinos, Fuente del Toro, Temple of Venus, San Antonio Waterfall and urbanized Parks. Start building a new hotel.

1930. Opening of the Argentino Hotel, the most sumptuous of America at that time.

1933. Don Francisco Piria dies.

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