FD Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay (Passport required)
Visiting Colonia del Sacramento means travelling back to Colonial times, when Spain, England and Portugal fought over this outpost, strategically located on the River Plate, just opposite Buenos Aires. Its incredible state of preservation, which makes it seem as though time had indeed stopped in this small city, has earned earned it the status of UNESCO World Heritage in 1995.
We start our journey at the Puerta de Campo, opposite Plaza Mayor. We then walk across the famous Calle de los Suspiros (Whisper Road), a narrow street with no sidewalks, paved with wedge stones, and a true icon of the fortified city. Next, we admire the San Francisco Convent, one of the oldest buildings in Colonia del Sacramento. Next to it stands the Old Lighthouse, which lights the whole bay. We also visit the Iglesia Matriz, the first church in town, built in 1680, and successively destroyed and rebuilt many times. Its walls pay silent witness of the different stages in the city’s history. Later we visit two Portuguese style houses, the Nacarello House and the Viceroy’s House; the name of the latter is enigmatic, because Colonia was never a part of any viceroyalty. After seeing the imposing Bastión del Carmen, ancient contention wall from the Spanish colonial era, we head for the Plaza de Toros (Bull Ring), a spectacular Moorish building, opened in 1910. Its lifetime was very brief indeed: in 1912 the national government banned bullfights, and this splendid building ceased to work as a bull ring.
Some places visited: Puerta de Campo, Calle de los Suspiros, Old Lighthouse, San Francisco Convent, Iglesia Matriz, Bastión del Carmen, Plaza de Toros.
Approximate duration: Full day.
Included Services:
Option: We strongly suggest you to spend the night and the following day at Colonia, for a better enjoyment of this wonderful experience.
We start our journey at the Puerta de Campo, opposite Plaza Mayor. We then walk across the famous Calle de los Suspiros (Whisper Road), a narrow street with no sidewalks, paved with wedge stones, and a true icon of the fortified city. Next, we admire the San Francisco Convent, one of the oldest buildings in Colonia del Sacramento. Next to it stands the Old Lighthouse, which lights the whole bay. We also visit the Iglesia Matriz, the first church in town, built in 1680, and successively destroyed and rebuilt many times. Its walls pay silent witness of the different stages in the city’s history. Later we visit two Portuguese style houses, the Nacarello House and the Viceroy’s House; the name of the latter is enigmatic, because Colonia was never a part of any viceroyalty. After seeing the imposing Bastión del Carmen, ancient contention wall from the Spanish colonial era, we head for the Plaza de Toros (Bull Ring), a spectacular Moorish building, opened in 1910. Its lifetime was very brief indeed: in 1912 the national government banned bullfights, and this splendid building ceased to work as a bull ring.
Some places visited: Puerta de Campo, Calle de los Suspiros, Old Lighthouse, San Francisco Convent, Iglesia Matriz, Bastión del Carmen, Plaza de Toros.
Approximate duration: Full day.
Included Services:
- Bilingual guide, expert in history, arts, architecture and travel & tourism.
- Transfers to/from port.
- Boat to Colonia.
- Lunch at Colonia Yacht Club (appetizer / main course / dessert / coffee / mineral water or soda / glass of wine).
- Guided tour around town and to the Colonial Historical Museum.
- Brochure with extended information of the tour and Colonia postcard.
Option: We strongly suggest you to spend the night and the following day at Colonia, for a better enjoyment of this wonderful experience.