Colonia, Uruguay
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Visit the only Portuguese colonial settlement on the shores of the Río de la Plata; the picturesque village of Colonia del Sacramento. After the transfer from your hotel to the harbour, you cross the river de la Plata with the ferryboat and reach the harbour of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. A visit to the historic centre of Colonia is like a walk back in time. The picturesque city was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, and it is well-known for its cobbled streets and its colourful houses in old Lisboan style. The city was of strategic importance in resisting the Spanish. After being disputed for a century, it was finally lost by its founders. The well-preserved urban landscape illustrates the successful fusion of the Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial styles. In 1995, the historical quarter of Colonia was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO. The historical quarter is visited on foot. The Alleyway of the Sighs, the lighthouse from 1835, the convent of San Francisco de Assis with the most important archives of war documentation of South America, the House of the Viceroy, the museum of the Spanish period and the museum of the Portuguese period, the bastions of San Pedro, the Cathedral and the main square are all within a few blocks distance. You will find plenty of small restaurants and handcraft shops. At the harbour, we will take the ferryboat back to Buenos Aires. A transfer brings us back to the hotel. |
