It is located at 177 Km from Montevideo.
 
Due to its peculiar architecture, completely full of history in many of its facades, it has been declared World Historical Heritage by UNESCO in 1995. It was founded by Portuguese and, due to its important geopolitical location, Spaniards fought over its possession during decades. It is in this way that the city became into a mixture of architectonical styles: the Spanish, with brick houses and flat roofs and the Portuguese, with stone houses and pitched roofs.
 
Because of its proximity to Buenos Aires, Argentina, many travelers coming from this city arrive at Colonia through the river by ferry boat.
 
It is very easy to fall in love with its colonial streets (made from wedge-shaped cobblestones), with its colors, its sunsets, its history still alive everywhere.
 
To see the historic neighborhood, start at Portón de Campo (Door of the Citadel), dated from 1745, a real historical attraction, with its stone walls and its bridge over the moat, and then continue walking by its old stone streets up its squares, where major interest buildings are situated: the Iglesia Matriz (Matriz Church), the oldest of the country, several times reconstructed due to the successive destructions caused by warlike conflicts; the Museum of the Portuguese and the Spanish Museum. Then, take the Calle de los Suspiros (Street of the Sighs), a symbol of the historical neighborhood of Colonia: a narrow street with typical constructions of the first half of 18th century, the most ancient houses of the city. Continue by San Pedro Street up to the secular ruins of the Convent of San Francisco. The lighthouse will illuminate the bay: climb its stairs, have a nice view of the city from above and finally go down and continue walking by its colonial streets, visiting its ancient houses opened to the traveler.
 
Close by, the Yacht Port, it is a place of great attraction all year round and it offers the possibility of renting a row or a sail boat. We must say that, besides its historical interests, Colonia has nice beaches over the Rio de la Plata with an impeccable access boulevard which may also lead you to the Bullfight Ring Ruins, of Moorish style, inaugurated in 1910 and closed in 1912, after only 8 bullfights.
 
Don’t forget to purchase some souvenirs before leaving, and please don’t miss a delightful meal in one of its many excellent restaurants!