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Colonia
Sitting on a peninsula jutting out into the estuary of the Rio de la Plata lays the UNESCO world heritage city of Colonia. This old Portuguese settlement dates to about 1680, and exploring its broad, winding cobblestone streets on foot make you feel transported back to long forgotten times.
Colonia was the only Portuguese settlement along the Rio de la Plata. Founded as Nova Colonia do Sacramento in 1680 and was the focus of struggle between the Spanish, who founded the settlement at Montevideo in response. The Portuguese made it a fortress city and for years it operated as a contraband port, evading the strictures imposed on trade by the Spanish crown.
The 17th century was a time when Baroque architecture was thriving and this architectural style was introduced to Colonia, by Portuguese builders, many of whom were then living in Brazil. This traditional Portuguese architecture has been well preserved through the years and today the charming, cobblestone streets and colourful, flat roofed buildings and old sycamore trees provide a way see how they lived more than 300 years ago. Colonia is a favourite retreat for Portenos (inhabitants of Buenos Aires) wishing to escape the city and is worth at least a day's visit from Buenos Aires. There are 2 to 3 daily ferries daily from Buenos Aires and a hydrofoil services to/from Buenos Aires - hydrofoil does the journey in about an hour and costs three times more than a regular ferry which takes 3 hours. THINGS TO SEE AND DO
The best way to see Colonia is on foot. Below are some of the areas we would recommend seeing.
Porton de Campo - The Drawbridge. The main entrance to the old walled part of the city this drawbridge dates back to 1745. Calle de los Suspiros - Street of Sighs. One of the most photographed parts of Colonia, and known as the Street of Sighs probably because you sigh when you first see it and then utter the words 'How pretty!' Plaza Mayor. Where the city was founded is the largest open area in the old city, big enough to practice military manoeuvres long ago. San Francisco Convent. Originally dating back to between 1683 and 1704, the thick walls of the convent have now mostly fallen down.
El Faro - The Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1857 over the ruins of the San Francisco convent. It is normally open every day from 12 to 7pm.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Colonia
Plaza Mayor is a converted colonial house inside the historical quarter of Colonia. It has a lovely feel to it with an interior courtyard, beautifully decorated with flowers and some of the rooms having views to the lighthouse and the nearby river.
Buenos Aires
When we first visited the Faena hotel we knew we were experiencing something completely different. Firstly there is no reception, each guest is assigned a ‘manager’ that looks after them for their stay
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