Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Colonia del Sacramento is the oldest European settlement in Uruguay. It has a population of around 22,000, and is the capital of Uruguay’s Department of Colonia. It was founded as a Portuguese port in 1680 by Manuel Lobo. The original port settlement of Colonia is located at the end of the San Gabriel Peninsula.

Portuguese Colonia was directly across the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver) from the Spanish port of Buenos Aires and threatened Spanish control of the region’s trade. For a century Colonia changed between Portuguese and Spanish possession through various battles and treaties until Uruguay’s independence in 1825.

The original port community of Colonia del Sacramento is now a historic district known as Barrío Histórico. Barrío Histórico is approximately a six by eight block area, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

Barrío Histórico has narrow stone streets with original Portuguese structures. There is a large plaza called Plaza Mayor, six museums, a large marina, restaurants, shops, and hotels.

Historic Colonia was originally protected by a stone wall that was built between the peninsula and the mainland to fend off attacks from land. The City Gate (Portón de Campo), drawbridge, and a section of wall were reconstructed from the ruins of the original wall and drawbridge between 1968 and 1971.

The oldest homes in Colonia del Sacramento were built by the Portuguese in the 1680's. The Spanish later occupied Colonia and left their architectural mark. Some historic buildings were remodeled with neoclassic facades in the 1800's.

The city of Colonia del Sacramento has a ferry terminal that is the main water entry for people coming to Uruguay from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Colonia del Sacramento also has a large free trade zone and a textile industrial plant.

The city is surrounded by beautiful farmland. Many farm families supplement their earnings by selling homemade cheeses and kitchen goods on the side of the road.

Things to see and do

Barrio Histórico
The main attraction for visitors to Colonia del Sacramento is to walk around the Barrio Histórico, with its period architecture, museums, and picturesque waterfront.

Museums

• Portuguese Museum (Museo Portugués): The building is Portuguese construction with replica furniture and uniforms.
• Municipal Museum (Museo Municipal): This was the city’s first museum. It exhibits artifacts and documents from different periods of Colonia’s history.



Tile Museum

• Regional Archive (Archivo Regonal): This stop is a typical Portuguese home with an interior made to appear as it would have in the first half of the 1700’s. The Regional Archive also contains historic documents.
• Tile Museum (Museo del Azulejo): The Tile Museum is a Portuguese building refurbished in 1986. It contains a collection of Portuguese, French, and Spanish tiles, as well as Uruguay’s first tiles.
• Indigenous Museum (Museo Indigena): This museum exhibits display pieces from the Charrúa and other regional tribes.
• Spanish Museum (Muse Español): The Spanish museum was built in 1720 and was reconstructed in the neoclassic façade in 1840. It exhibits historic artifacts and posted stories about Colonia’s history, as well as some modern Uruguayan art.

Colonia del Sacramento waterfront on a misty day

A couple of additional architectural landmarks within the historic district are:

• Nacarello’s house (Casa de Nacarello): This Portuguese home was originally constructed in the 1790’s and was restored in 1993. Its interior includes period furniture. 
• Ruins and lighthouse: The ruins are of a convent that was built in 1694 and destroyed by fire in 1704. The lighthouse was started in 1845, but wasn’t finished until 1857, due to a regional war. 
• Basilica of the Holy Sacrament (Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento): This church was built in 1808, with some restorations made in 1957. 

Walking tours: 
While many people wander on their own, there are walking tours available within the Barrio Histórico that provide a deeper historical understanding of the origins of Uruguay’s oldest European settlement.

Bicycles, motor scooters, and dune buggies can be rented on Avenue General Flores.

Outside of Barrio Histórico 
There are van tours available that take you through the greater city of Colonia del Sacramento. I took a van tour in addition to a walking tour on my first visit to Colonia and there are a couple of architectural landmarks that I found memorable.

The first was a decomposing traditional Spanish-style bullfighting ring. Bullfighting has been outlawed in Uruguay for almost 100 years, so the “Plaza de Toros” is slowly becoming ruins.

A second memorable stop on the tour was to a small chapel called Iglesia San Benito. This chapel opened in 1761 and is the oldest Church in Uruguay. Its first priest was Saint Benito de Palermo, also known as The Black Saint, who was a disciple of Francis of Assisi. San Benito was the son of Sicilian Moors who converted to Christianity.

Places to eat

There are several restaurants and cafes inside the Barrio Histórico, many with outside seating. If you are on a budget there are several restaurants on Avenue General Flores, outside the Barrio Histórico, that have more affordable places to grab a bite.

If you are looking for a dining experience, I hear that a place called La Florida, located just outside the Portón de Campo to Barrio Histórico serves fresh and creative fusion dishes in a unique setting.

Hotels 

There are many hotels in and around the Barrio Histórico. The hotels inside the Barrio Histórico tend to be a little noisy during the high season. I have listed three hotels: One traditional and one modern hotel located just outside the Barrio Histórico, as well as a resort hotel located four kilometers from Colonia’s Barrio Histórico. (If you are traveling on a budget avoid weekends in the summer, when hotel rates in Colonia are at their highest.)

Pasada del Angel Washington 

Washington Barbot 59 (at the corner of Florida)

http://www.posadadelangel.net/

(598) 522-4602 from Buenos Aires: (011) 4773-7393

Pasada del Angel is a simple place with small rooms that is known for good service. It is conveniently located within walking distance of the bus terminal and ferry terminal, and just a block from Colonia’s Barrio Histórico (About five blocks from the Harbor and bus terminal.)

Radisson Colonia del Sacramento Hotel and Casino 

Washington Barbot 283

http://www.radissoncolonia.com/

(598) 523-0460 From US and Canada 800-395-7046

The Radisson Colonia del Sacramento Hotel and Casino provides a modern hotel experience in a good location. Amenities include a swimming pool, sauna, gym, massage, and casino. It is conveniently located one block from the Barrio Histórico. (On other side of the small peninsula from Pasada del Angel)

Sheraton Colonia Golf and Spa Resort 

http://www.hotelsheratoncolonia.com/

(598) 452-2900

The Sheraton Colonia Golf and Spa Resort has multiple swimming pools, a 13 hole golf course, tennis courts, a full-service spa, and access to a river beach. It is located 4 kilometers from Colonia’s Barrio Histórico.

 Local maps and travel info 

Colonia del Sacramento’s main tourism office is located on Avenue Gral. Flores and Calle Gral. Riveria. They have a good website at: www.colonianet.com

There is also an information center located just inside the Barrio Histórico by the Portón de Campo (City Gate).

Getting there 

By Car:

Colonia del Sacramento is about 180 kilometers west of Montevideo on Ruta 1.

By Bus: 

Bus companies COT and Turil both have service between Montevideo and Colonia.

COT www.cot.com.uy

Turil www.turil.com.uy

By Ferry from Buenos Aires 

There are three companies that I know of that provide ferry service between Buenos Aires and Colonia del Sacramento. There are two classes of ferry boats: Large high capacity boats that take three or more hours to cross the river. And, there are high speed boats that make the crossing in less than an hour.

Some people will take the fast boat from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento in the morning and then take another fast boat back in the evening, for a day trip.

Colonia del Sacramento can be a convenient stopover place, either going to or coming from Buenos Aires. You can often save moneny by taking advantage of travel packages that include a hotel in colonia with your ferry passage.

Ferry Companies: 

Buquebus
www.buquebus.com

Colonia Express
www.coloniaexpress.com

Seacat Colonia
www.seacatcolonia.com

One last thing. Colonia del Sacramento is famous for beautiful sunsets:



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