The Portuguese founded Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay, in 1680 as a fortress city and smuggling port. In the centuries that followed, Spain, Portugal and Britain fought for ownership of this remote little city. Colonia, as locals call it, finally won its independence in 1828, when it became an official part of Uruguay. During the 1990s, UNESCO designated Colonia Del Sacramento as a World Heritage Site. Colonia sits along the Rio de la Plata, where it enjoys a temperate climate and peaceful ambiance.


Uruguay guidebooks rarely list some of the most intriguing aspects of Colonia. Before you visit its museums and monuments, take a day for strolling the streets and enjoying the town's pace, people and pets. A 1745 drawbridge, the Porton de Campon, leads you to the walled district of the old city, where you'll find an 1857 lighthouse and a bullfighting ring, built in 1910 but abandoned in 1912, when the Uruguayan government made the sport illegal. Explore the winding cobblestone walkways and tile and stucco colonial houses of Calle de los Suspiros, appropriately translated as "street of sighs." If you are visiting during summer, a walk along the Rio de la Plata offers cool relief from the hot temperatures.

Cars and Dogs

Visitors experience a pleasant kind of culture shock in Colonia. Local drivers, often driving vintage vehicles from the 1930s to 1970s, stop short in the middle of traffic to let pedestrians cross. In fact, the vintage cars, usually in mint condition, that line Colonia's streets inspire a variety of photography blogs on the Internet.Then there's the dogs. These unleashed and unusually friendly canines are not strays, explains Julie Butler, author of "Nine Months in Uruguay." Latin American pet customs differ from those in North America. Since dogs are not allowed indoors, they are free to roam through the town. Many amuse themselves by offering unofficial companionship to visitors.


Colonia's small museums, located in the historic district, sit within walking distance of one another. The Portuguese Museum, housed in an 18th century building, features a coat of arms, weaponry, furniture and old maps of the area. Tile plays a key role in Colonia's interior and exterior architectural design. The Tile Museum Museum displays French, Spanish and Portuguese tiles from the 17th and 18th centuries. Colonia's Indigenous Museum, housed in a late 19th century building, features typical artifacts of the cultures that occupied the town 10,000 years before the European conquerors arrived. See Resources.


Farmland, and an overwhelming abundance of cows, fills the towns surrounding Colonia del Sacramento. In fact, the beef, eggs and cheese dishes served in restaurants probably comes from one of these local farms. The chivito is a giant sandwich served at many Colonia restaurants. Grilled beef, ham, cheese and eggs nestle between two slices of a thick roll. Some restaurants add salsa golf, a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise. Others offer lettuce, tomato and a generous portion of fried potatoes. While Uruguay is a beef culture, non-meat eaters and even vegans have some options. Many restaurants make their own gnocchi, a pasta that combines flour and potatoes. Colonia's proximity to the water makes it an excellent location for trying out the local fish and seafood. Grilled tuna and shrimp in an olive oil, garlic and paprika sauce are common items at restaurants.


Craft and handmade clothing shops line the Feria Artesanal, located along Colonia's northern waterfront. The area combines outdoor stalls and indoor shops, where local artisans sell wall hangings, handmade embroidered pocketbooks and passport holders, ceramics, art, and decorative notebooks, glassware and candles. Handmade wool capes and sweaters come from local sheep. Most owners of the outdoor stalls only accept cash, but some take credit cards.


  • Museos de Colonia del Sacramento; Colonia del Sacramento; Colonia; +598 (52) 4522-5609

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