Colonia del Sacramento Things to Do

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Where to start? As I have mentioned Colonia is one of my favorite places in South America
just because it is so much different than the rest of the continent. For one the historic district of Colinia is great ,not a large area but large enough to explore for several hours.
The town is very safe and so you are in no danger of any kind. Third it a UNESCO world heritage site and so anyone with a desire to see historic places in South America should put this at the top of there list.

Let's imagine that you have bought all T-shirts, magnets and other trinkets that your little heart had desired. Let's presume that you have satisfied this "hambre de lobo" that has been haunting you since embarkation in BA. What else is left to do in Colonia?
You can concentrate on the origins of this historic town. The main plaza is the spot where according to legend (more trivial version is info plaque) the house of the Portuguese master of this smuggling outpost was located. The Spanish did not allow this place to flourish and apparently after looting it they made sure there are no many traces left for posterity to admire. Colonia's tourist board is making the most out of it and you have nothing to lose - after this historical note you can proceed to complete your collection of Uruguay souvenirs or go strait to the Buquebus pier and pay your exit tax before the crowds have squeezed you tightly.

This is an old abandoned bullring. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by a wealthy Argentine. He intended it to be part of his recreational complex, which also included a casino. Unfortunately for him, the Uruguayan government outlawed bullfighting not long after the building's construction. It's well worth the walk, it's completely silent and you can imagine how crowded it might have been during one of the few bullfights that actually took place!

The Barrio Historico is not a large area. Pick any street and wander. Try and get lost. You'll be amazed at what you can find - here an Azuelo Museum, there a skeleton of a whale. And if you are nice, one of the friendly dogs will accompany you ;-]

Even in the rain, a quiet walk along the riverfront is in order and offers a pleasant diversion from the many tourist shops along the main street of Av General Flores. Heading north you will come to the yacht center - very quiet on this very wet day!

Next to the ruins of a 17th century Franciscan convent is this 19ht century lighthouse, offering a fine view over the town on a nice day. To the north side of the Faro is the Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo. On the west side of the Plaza is the Museo Municipal where you can glimpse at the colonial past of the 17th-18th century.

Downtown Colonia has all the amenities of any small town. It rather reminds me of Oxford, North Carolina only without the ornate architecture (that is in the old town).

After lunch, there was time before we had to be on the bus so I changed $80 of the remaining $100 I had in traveler's cheques. It was done quickly and without any bureaucracy, a refreshing change from previous experience in South America. It is ironic that I could get this done in a small town like Colonia del Sacramento (pop. 27000) and not be able heretofore to do it in Buenos Aires- a city of several million.

One of the oldest buildings of Colonia del Sacramento is the Convent of San Francisco, which dates from the end of the 17th century. Nowadays only the ruins remains, close to the lighthouse.

Uno de los edificios más antiguos de Colonia del Sacramento es el Convento de San Francisco, que data de finales del siglo XVII. En la actualidad, sólo quedan sus ruinas, junto al faro.