Colonia Del Sacramento Information

This charming little coastal town dating back to the 17th century should not be missed. A former fortress and contraband port now protected by UNESCO, Colonia has wonderful old Portuguese colonial architecture and streets shaded by sycamores. The old Barrio Historico is a slow-paced hamlet, a place to stroll cobblestone lanes, linger under palm trees in the park or sit and watch local fishermen cast for the day's catch. On our most recent trip there, the air was fragrant from spring blooms - a welcome change from the more-polluted air of Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

Tour the fortress walls, lighthouse, municipal museum, the historical museums (Museo Espanol, Museo Portugues) and the oldest church in Uruguay, the Iglesia Matriz del Santisimo Sacramento, which dates from 1699. There's also an old bull ring to check out, the only one in the country (bullfighting was abolished shortly after the ring was built). And take note of the daily yerba mate ritual - it's quite a spectacle to see so many people imbibing the herbal tea-like drink in the late afternoon. Ferries and hydrofoils connect Colonia with Buenos Aires. 100 mi/160 km west of Montevideo.

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