Visiting the historic quarter of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

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Von: wom87

We have intended Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay as a place where we can stop and take a break from our hectic trips. Similar to our time in Tahiti in the South Pacific, we thought it was an ideal place to pause for a few weeks and to recover before we go to another chapter of our trip.

When we reached Buenos Aires in Argentina - only 50 km above the Río de la Plata - unfortunately we went out both the financial means and the time. What should have been a longer stay with some urgently needed downtimes became a short stopover with little more than a short tour of the most important sights of the historic district (Barrio Histórico).

Nevertheless, we liked what we saw in Colonia del Sacramento.

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The Portuguese founded the small and charming settlement in 1680 in its strategically favorable location on the north bank of the Río de la Plata opposite Buenos Aires. In the next 150 years, the region changed the owner no less than 10 times, with the rule between Spain and Portugal changing back and forth. The region was conquered, besieged and repeatedly attacked by the two colonial superpowers until it was incorporated into the just independent Brazil in 1822. Six years later, when Uruguay explained his independence, Colonia del Sacramento finally found a permanent peace and rose to a "Ciudad" (city status).

The well-preserved city landscape, which was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, is a popular tourist attraction for visitors from Buenos Aires and the rest of Uruguay. Nevertheless, the city remains a quiet and intimate travel destination. There are many hotels and restaurants for the masses, but the city is not swollen or has lost its charm. Despite the promotion to the city, the population of Colonia remains low with 27,000.

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In contrast to so many other colonial urban areas of this period, the historic district of Colonia del Sacramento does not correspond to the rigid "chess board" grid, which was imposed by Spain as part of the "laws of India". Instead, irregular and winding cobblestone streets lead from the quiet river bank back to the courtyards lined with plane trees, of which the largest and lively is the Plaza Mayor.

The quiet streets are full of independent cafes, restaurants, galleries, museums as well as handicrafts and souvenir shops. When the evening breaks, the sound of live music begins to drive through the courtyards, but that's not Cartagena in Colombia. The nightlife in Colonia is calm and relaxed; Not the Latin American atmosphere that you may expect on the other side of the water in Buenos Aires.

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to explore all sights and have enough time to do what the city encourages the most - to meandage - they ideally remain for a long weekend. However, if you have little time like us, you will probably have to set priorities.

Some of the best preserved colonial buildings are located on the Portón de Campo (city gate), the lighthouse and the monastery ruins, the stone basilica of the Holy Sacrament, the city museum, the quay and the bank areas as well as the picturesque Calle San Pedro.

Anyway you spend your time in Colonia del Sacramento, make sure that you are on the river bank in good time to experience the sunset.

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Colonia del Sacramento: The essentials

was: Visiting the historical center of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay.

WO: On the north bank of the Río de la Plata, 180 km west of Montevideo and 50 km from Buenos Aires, Argentina. We stayed in the Hotel Romi, a mid -range hotel that is a few blocks from the historic center.

When: The best travel time for Colonia del Sacramento is in summer (December to March). This is the most busy time of the year, so prices are higher and it can be difficult to find a room because thousands of visitors from Buenos Aires arrive. The second best options are the low season (Apr-Jun and Oct-Nov). In the winter months (Jul-SEP) it can literally be cool and some sights, shops and hotels can be closed.

like: Buquebus offers the most convenient and fastest ferry connections via the Río de la Plata from and to Buenos Aires. You can find the cheapest tickets if you don't travel on weekends or Friday evening. The travel times vary and range from one to three hours, depending on the time of day and ticket class. Colonia Express and Seacat also offer ferry crossings. One-way tickets start at around $ 30-50

The ferry port in Colonia del Sacramento is only a short walk to the outskirts on the edge of the historical center, where most hotels are located. Next to the ferry terminal is the bus station, where buses are easy to find to Montevideo. There are several bus connections from Colonia del Sacramento to Montevideo from a number of well -known companies every day. Although rarely necessary, it is best to buy tickets at least one day in advance to avoid disappointments. The trip lasts 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the stop and costs about 12 USD (UYU360 Pesos).

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