Basílica del Santísmo
Colonia del Sacramento Street
Renovated House
I spent Friday exploring Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, I the only Portuguese settlement along the Rio de la Plata. In the 1600s Colonia was the focus of a struggle over control of the area between the Spanish and Portuguese.
At that time, Colonia was a walled city and contraband port, evading the Spanish crown’s trade rules. Today it’s a sleepy resort town, a port, and an agricultural and textile trade center. It’s one of the world’s best examples of early Spanish and Portuguese architecture. Colonia reminded me of Cartagena, Columbia – but smaller, more conservative, and less touristy.
Tree-Lined Street
Restored House & Antique Truck
Boats run daily between Buenos Aires and Colonia. The 8:30 a.m. boat (Buquebus) was packed with tourists – mostly Argentine. The ride from Buenos Aires along Rio de la Plata takes about an hour each way on a fast boat and passengers are not allowed outside on the deck. The weather was clear, in the mid-70s, and wonderful.
I was a bit groggy as the day before demonstrations spilled over from Central Buenos Aires into nearby Cordoba Avenue in Recoleta. The sound of raucous demonstrators outside late at night and again early in the morning made it difficult to sleep. While in Buenos Aires I’ve experienced demonstrations knotting up traffic in main parts of the city. The demonstrators know how to cause pandemonium. Whatever their demonstrations were about, hope they accomplished something other than disturbing the residents of Recoleta.
Bull Fighting Ring
El Faro Lighthouse
There are several interesting attractions in Colonia del Sacramento, including:
Puerta de la Ciudadela, a drawbridge built in 1745 to safeguard the city
Bastion del Carmen, a cultural center that was once a factory and wharf
El Faro Lighthouse constructed in 1857 of stones from the ruins of a convent
Museo Portuguese with artifacts representing Portuguese architecture and furnishings
Plaza de Toros bull ring built in 1910 which saw a total of 8 bullfights before bullfighting was prohibited in 1912
Café Colonia
Marina
Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay is an artfully detailed restoration of an original colonial city. Homes, gardens, and parks dating back to the 1600s have been meticulously restored to their original grandeur. The trees and antique cars throughout the city are magnificent and the weather is temperate all year.
One of the most popular and romantic places to stay in Colonia is Plaza Posada Mayor, now a beautifully restored colonial hotel.
Boat Dock
Colonia Restaurant & Cafe
“Built in the Portuguese style of houses and cobblestoned streets, the historic part of Colonia is reminiscent of old Lisbon with winding streets and colorful houses. The historic quarter, Barrío Historico, on a small peninsula jutting out into the river, was named a UNESCO heritage site in 1995.”
It was a mellow, quiet day in a colorful place with rich historical significance. After walking around all day in the pleasant atmosphere and warm sun I chatted with some of the other passengers on the boat and then fell asleep on the way back to Buenos Aires – as did half the people on the boat! The others went crazy over the duty-free shop and almost bought the place out. There were good bargains compared to the high prices in Buenos Aires.
Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay I spent Friday exploring Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, I the only Portuguese settlement along the Rio de la Plata.
