Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay’s Prettiest City, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Once surrounded by a tall rampart, Colonia del Sacramento ’s centuries-old buildings decorate its cobblestone streets to make it Uruguay’s prettiest city. As you wander through the historic quarter, you can’t help but be enchanted by the rustic grace these Portuguese and Spanish heritage buildings possess.

Situated on the edge of Rio de la Plata, Colonia del Sacramento had a coveted location that made it attractive to both Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors. It was first settled by the Portuguese in 1860, but many battles over it ensued, and ownership went back and forth between the two. As a result, its historic quarter boasts styles from both countries. In some areas you can see a definite difference, while in others, they blend seamlessly from one to the other. When exploring the streets of Colonia’s historic quarter, you will be transported back to those early days.

We arrived in Colonia, as it is commonly called, from Buenos Aires by ferry. Seeing its low-rise homes and uneven shore from the ferry made us excited to explore it further.

The deep port on the Rio de la Plata is why the town was first established here. Instead of 17th century ships docked at its piers, today the Old Port (Puerto Viejo) is used by sailboats and fishing boats. You can still get a sense of its age, though, from the old warehouses on the banks nearby. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).