Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
About two weeks after we arrived in Buenos Aires, we were invited to go on a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. Colonia is located just across the Rio de la Plata, about an hour ferry boat ride on the Buquebus. It is the oldest city in Uruguay and has a charming historical quarter which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Colonia was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese and was disputed over by the Spaniards for nearly a century. The physical manifestation of the disputes live in the well-preserved urban landscape and exist in a beautiful and now harmonious way. The historic quarter retains it’s irregular, terrain-hugging street plans as built by the Portuguese, and outside the historic quarter the roads are larger and more orthogonal as built by the Spaniards. In addition, the drainage techniques of the cobblestone streets illustrate another tangible example of the changes in power. The streets built so the rain will flow down the center were built by Portuguese and those built so the rain will flow down either side were built by the Spanish. The architecture of Colonia exemplifies that of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries of Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial styles.
Upon leaving the Buquebus terminal, we decided to walk to the historical quarter in lieu of taking a taxi. The terminal was rather chaotic due to renovations there were underway, but once we got out of the terminal it was a pretty short and pleasant walk. We followed the river bank about six blocks to the historical quarter. After wandering around a bit, we found the impressive Porton de Campo (Gates of the City), built in 1745 by the Portuguese. At that point in time, the drawbridge was the only entrance into the city. Next, we stopped at the lighthouse (1857) which was built next to San Francisco Xavier’s Convent (1683). The convent sits in ruins, but it’s massive walls are still impressive today measuring in at almost almost 3′-0″ wide. We continued our walk through the quarter, down the cobblestone roads and past structures so rich in history. As late morning came, we happened upon a quaint restaurant called Lentas Maravilles and had a simple breakfast of tostadas with cream cheese and dulce de leche. We sat outside, behind the restaurant (which used to be a house), in the garden overlooking the river. It was a unique experience, very serene and relaxing, I could have spent all day there. After breakfast, we walked over Iglesia Matriz (Main Church), which was built in 1680. The church, originally built of mud and straw, was victim of many destructions yet still stands today as the oldest church in Uruguay. After more sightseeing and a little bit of window shopping, we decided to grab lunch at El Drugstore before heading back to the terminal. It was a rather eclectic restaurant with unique decor and a peculiar menu layout. The service was slow, but the paella, wow. Delicious.
So if you find yourself looking for a quaint, romantic and slow-paced getaway, or maybe you just need to escape the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires, take a trip to Colonia and walk the historically rich cobblestone streets.
Location Map
Site Map
Gates of the City
Lighthouse and Convent
A Door Surround of Flowers
Old Building, Old Car
Lentas Maravilles
Main Church
El Drugstore
View the entire photo gallery here: Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
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