Colonia del Sacramento

The "Banda Oriental", as this region was then called (because of its location in respect of the Uruguay River), was no man's land, in the hazy borders between the Spanish and Portuguese empires. The Portuguese took the initiative and in January 1680, the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Lobo, ordered the construction of a fortified city in the present site of Colonia del Sacramento.

The proximity of Buenos Aires, central enclave of the Spanish empire, gave shape to a hazardous history. It was founded twice, suffered various assaults, sieges and changes of dominion, until it finally became part of the territory of independent Uruguay. The Historical Borough of Colonia del Sacramento, which was declared "Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 1995, is a privilege in order to relive our past.

The best way to enter the city of Colonia del Sacramento is through the "Portón del Campo", (Country Gate), built in 1745. It has been restored, as have been the walls and drawbridge, and marks the limits of the old urban site. From there you must take a walk along the old cobbled streets, squares and nooks of the historic centre, where you will find the most interesting colonial buildings. The Matriz Church, next to the Plaza de Armas, which has survived fires and reconstruction, can still be admired, with its thick walls, its altars and beautiful carvings.

Around the Main Square ("Plaza Mayor"), there are various museums, one of which is the Portuguese Museum, set up in a 1720 house. There is also a Spanish Museum, which also belongs to the first half of the XVIII Century.

The House of Admiral Guillermo Brown, a Briton who participated actively in the history of the River Plate, exhibits documents, coins, weapons and furniture; as well as a rich collection of local flora and fauna, exotic butterflies and a palaeontology room with fossils over one hundred thousand years old. Towards the river, along the Misones de los Tapes Street, there is another building from the XVIII Century that must be visited to be able to admire a very interesting display of glazed tiles that date back to the XIX Century.