Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, located by the Río de la Plata and facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay and serves as the capital of the Colonia Department. With a population of around 32,174 as of the 2023 census, it has a rich history that attracts many visitors.

The historic quarter of Colonia del Sacramento is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing beautiful old buildings and cobblestone streets. Today, the city is also known for producing textiles and has a free trade zone, along with a polytechnic centre and several important government buildings.

History

Colonia del Sacramento is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. It was first settled by Portuguese explorers in 1680 when King Peter II sent soldiers to build a post on San Gabriel Island. Over the years, the town changed hands many times between Portugal and Spain.

The town grew with smuggling and cattle hunting as important parts of its economy. It also became a strong and well-defended city with big walls and bastions along the coast. After many attacks and treaties, the town became part of Spain, then Brazil, and finally Uruguay. Today, the old part of town still shows its Portuguese roots with narrow, winding streets, while newer parts have wider, straight roads. Recently, plans were made to build a new area called Colonia Ala Este to welcome people moving from nearby Argentina.

Population

In 2023, Colonia del Sacramento had a population of 32,174 people.

Source: National Statistics Institute

Geography

Climate

Colonia del Sacramento has a mild humid subtropical climate. Summers are warm, and winters are cool, with frost and fog happening often. Rain falls evenly during the year, with about 1,039 mm (40.91 in) total. The average temperature is 17 °C (63 °F).

Urban fabric

Colonia del Sacramento is built on a peninsula that reaches into the Río de la Plata. There is a special area called the "Barrio Histórico" or Portuguese Old City, which used to be protected by a wall. Most of this wall was torn down long ago. The streets in the Portuguese part of the city don’t follow a straight pattern, but the older Spanish part of the city has streets laid out in a square, checkerboard style.

Sport

Colonia del Sacramento has an exciting football team called Plaza Colonia. It was started in 1917 and plays at the Estadio Profesor Alberto Suppici. The team's biggest win was the 2016 Clausura.

Another team, Deportivo Colonia, began in 1999 but lost its professional status in 2007. They now play at the Estadio Miguel Campomar.

Club Atlético Plaza offers many sports, including futsal, volleyball, basketball, and football. Their football games are held at Estadio Néstor Naviliat.

The town also has a old bullring called the Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos. Though it is no longer used for bullfights, it has been fixed up and is now a place for performances.

Points of interest

Colonia del Sacramento has a special area called the Barrio Histórico, which is a World Heritage Site chosen by UNESCO. This area has old cobblestone streets that were built by the Portuguese long ago in the 1600s. It is close to where boats come into town.

Near the main square, called Plaza Mayor, there are many interesting places to see. These include the City Gate with its wooden drawbridge, the ruins of an old lighthouse and convent, a beautiful stone church called the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, and a museum showing old Portuguese treasures. You can also visit an old Portuguese house, a street known as Calle de los Suspiros, a municipal museum, a rebuilt house that once belonged to a leader, and a place that used to be a bullring but is now used for sports and cultural events.

Transportation

Colonia del Sacramento has three ferry boat lines from Buenos Aires, Argentina: Buquebus, Colonia Express, and Seacat Colonia. As of 2025^[update], about 2.5 million people travel across the River Plate each year this way.

Two main highways lead to Colonia: Route 1 goes to Montevideo, which is 180 km east, and Route 21 heads north to places like the Aarón de Anchorena National Park and Fray Bentos. The town also has Colonia Airport, located 6 km from the city along Route 1. There are plans to extend the runway to start commercial flights again.

Consular representation

Argentina has a consulate in Colonia del Sacramento. This helps people from Argentina who live or visit the city.

Twin towns – sister cities

Colonia del Sacramento has several sister cities around the world. These include:

• Antigua Guatemala in Guatemala
• Guimarães in Portugal
• Olinda and Pelotas in Brazil
• Quilmes in Argentina