Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, who had aspirations to establish an strategic outpost and a military fortress on the northern bank of the River Plate with the intention of expanding the control of Portugal beyond Brazil. It is located 177km northwest up the River Plate, from Montevideo and just 61km directly across from Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city, which puts it within an hour on a fast Buque Bus passenger ferry for either a day excursion, or to stay overnight and saviour the tranquility, ambiance and quaint historical remnants of its past.

The old town section of Colonia del Sacramento is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its originally laid cobble-stoned neighbourhoods, lined with single story buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement. Set above this historic district is the 19th-century Colonia del Sacramento red and white striped signature lighthouse, which is open for visitors to climb to the top, offering sweeping river views. Nearby is Portón de Campo, remnants from the old city walls and the original foundations of the ancient monastery. There are some fabulous original single story brick buildings that when dining there for a lazy lunch or dinner, it is difficult not to have the thought " if only these walls could talk?".

Highlights

Porton de Campo - the City Gate and original massive oak wooden drawbridge with two long ramparts of the original fortress with bronze cannons still in place.

Lighthouse and convent ruins of the 17th-century Convent of San Francisco

Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento - the Basilica of the Holy Sacrament, built of stone by the Portuguese in 1808 and has 3m thick white washed walls. The acoustics in this basilica are simply outstanding.

Portuguese Museum - constructed in the 18th century, which exhibits Portuguese furnishings, jewellery, uniforms and old maps of Portuguese naval expeditions

Casa de Nacarello - an 18th-century Portuguese house

Municipal Museum - rebuilt by the Spanish in 1835 as Casa del Almirante Brown, it exhibits artifacts and documents of the city's historical past and their respective cultures

Viceroy's House - the Casa del Virrey, reconstructed from the original ruins

Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos, a Bullfighting ring abandoned in the late 1930's.