UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
Colonia del Sacramento is located on the northern margin of the Río de la Plata, 177 kilometers from Montevideo and 45 kilometers in a straight line from Buenos Aires. The Historical Quarter which comprises 14 hectares of the western end of the city was declared by UNESCO, Historical Patrimony of the Humanity in December 1995.
Its urban plant of Portuguese origin contrasts with the model prescribed by the Spanish law on the West Indies. It is characterized by the unmistakable walls and defensive bastions.
The Portón de Campo or Puerta de la Ciudadela (Citadel entrance) is an unavoidable point in every visit. Also, its narrow streets, as well as the civil constructions, all of stone, which highlight its mercantile and military tradition.
The “Calle de los Suspiros” (the Sighs street), a colonial postcard, is one of the most typical and known, among several of the same origin and style. Close to the Bastion and Punta de San Pedro is the Lighthouse which was built in 1857 and consists of a masonry tower painted white on the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco Xavier, lighthouse listed as the oldest in the country. Its focal height is 34 meters above sea level and its characteristic is a flash of red light every 9 seconds being visible at 6.4 miles in clear weather. From its summit, the view of the whole city and the Rio de la Plata is wonderful.
The unique preservation of the environment has allowed the use of the colonial city as a stage and exteriors of several films of the time, such as “De no se habla” (1993) by María Luisa Bemberg, with Marcello Mastroianni as the leading actor.
The Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo as a center of activities. It is surrounded by several of the museums of the city. The Portuguese, Municipal, Historical Regional Archive plus Casa de Nacarello and the nearby Indigenous, Del Azulejo (tiles) and Spanish museums make up the Museums System. The Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament is the oldest in the country.
The archaeological restoration of the former Portuguese Governors’ House stands out due to its size.