Colonia del Sacramento
Encyclopedia
Colonia del Sacramento is a city
in southwestern Uruguay
, by the Río de la Plata
, facing Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento
of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.
It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site
. Modern Colonia del Sacramento produces textiles and has a free trade zone
, in addition to a polytechnic
centre and various government buildings.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
as Colónia do Sacramento, the colony was later disputed by the Spanish
who settled on the opposite bank of the river at Buenos Aires. The colony was conquered by José de Garro
in 1680, but returned to Portugal the next year. It was conquered again by the Spanish in March 1705 after a siege of five months
, but given back in the Treaty of Utrecht
. Another attack during the Spanish-Portuguese War, 1735-1737
, failed.
It kept changing hands from crown to crown due to treaties such as the Treaty of Madrid
in 1750 and the Treaty of San Ildefonso
in 1777, until it remained with the Spanish. It then transferred to Portuguese control again, being later incorporated in Brazil
after 1816, when the entire Banda Oriental (Uruguay) was seized by the government of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and renamed the Cisplatina province
.
Now part of the independent country of Uruguay, Colonia del Sacramento has expanded to the north and east, but the original Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) retains its irregular, terrain-fitting street plan built by the Portuguese, contrasting with the wider, orthogonal calles in the newer Spanish area.
, described by the Köppen climate classification
as Cfa. Summers are warm and winters are cool, with relatively frequent frost
s and fog
. The precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 1,039 mm (40.91 in), and the annual average temperature is 17 °C (63 °F).
by UNESCO
. It is a popular tourist attraction for visitors from Buenos Aires, and there is frequent ferry service across the Río de la Plata between the two cities, with fast ferries completing the journey in just 50 minutes. The historical section of Colonia, which has some cobblestone streets built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, is within walking distance of the ferry terminal. Among the notable visitor attractions around the tree-lined Plaza Mayor (main square) are:
Two principal highways terminate at Colonia: Highway #1 connects Colonia to Montevideo
and points east; Highway #21 connects to points north, including the Aarón de Anchorena National Park, 30 kilometres (19 mi) distant, and Fray Bentos
. There is also a local airport which can receive light aircraft. There is a project in planning to lengthen the runway and recommence flights to Buenos Aires (this was done in the past)and other cities within Uruguay.
The city is served by Laguna de los Patos International Airport
located 17km from Colonia along route 1.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in southwestern Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, by the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, facing Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento
Departments of Uruguay
||Uruguay consists of 19 departments :# Artigas . Formed in 1884 from part of Salto Department. The only department to border both Argentina in the west and Brazil in the north and east.# Canelones . One of the original 6 departments created in 1816...
of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.
It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Modern Colonia del Sacramento produces textiles and has a free trade zone
Free trade zone
A free trade zone or export processing zone , also called foreign-trade zone, formerly free port is an area within which goods may be landed, handled, manufactured or reconfigured, and reexported without the intervention of the customs authorities...
, in addition to a polytechnic
Institute of technology
Institute of technology is a designation employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
centre and various government buildings.
Population
In 2004 Colonia del Sacramento had a population of 21,714.| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 13,337 |
| 1975 | 17,046 |
| 1985 | 19,102 |
| 1996 | 22,200 |
| 2004 | 21,714 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
History
Founded in 1680 by PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
as Colónia do Sacramento, the colony was later disputed by the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
who settled on the opposite bank of the river at Buenos Aires. The colony was conquered by José de Garro
José de Garro
Marcos José de Garro Senei de Artola, nicknamed "El Santo" , was a Spanish military man who served in many positions in the colonial administration of the Spanish Empire. He served as governor of Tucumán from 1675–1678, governor of Buenos Aires from 1678–1682 and governor of Chile from 1682-1692...
in 1680, but returned to Portugal the next year. It was conquered again by the Spanish in March 1705 after a siege of five months
Siege of Colonia del Sacramento
The Siege of Colonia del Sacramento was a successful siege in 1704 by Spanish forces of the Portuguese colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento, opposite Buenos Aires and now in the nation of Uruguay. Four thousand natives and 650 Spaniards, led by the governor of Buenos Aires, Don Alonso Juan de...
, but given back in the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
. Another attack during the Spanish-Portuguese War, 1735-1737
Spanish-Portuguese War, 1735-1737
The Spanish-Portuguese War between 1735-1737 was fought over the Banda Oriental, roughly present-day Uruguay.At that time, this part of South-America was sparsely populated and was on the border between Portuguese Colonial Brazil and the Spanish Governorate of the Río de la Plata.Spain claimed the...
, failed.
It kept changing hands from crown to crown due to treaties such as the Treaty of Madrid
Treaty of Madrid (1750)
The Spanish–Portuguese treaty of 1750 or Treaty of Madrid was a document signed by Ferdinand VI of Spain and John V of Portugal on January 13, 1750, concerning their empires and status of their territories in what is now Brazil....
in 1750 and the Treaty of San Ildefonso
First Treaty of San Ildefonso
The First Treaty of San Ildefonso was signed on October 1, 1777 between the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire, shortly after the crowning of Mary I of Portugal and dismissal of Sebastião de Melo, Marquis of Pombal as de facto ruler of Portugal....
in 1777, until it remained with the Spanish. It then transferred to Portuguese control again, being later incorporated in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
after 1816, when the entire Banda Oriental (Uruguay) was seized by the government of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and renamed the Cisplatina province
Cisplatina
The Cisplatina Province was a Portuguese and later a Brazilian province in existence from 1815 to 1828...
.
Now part of the independent country of Uruguay, Colonia del Sacramento has expanded to the north and east, but the original Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) retains its irregular, terrain-fitting street plan built by the Portuguese, contrasting with the wider, orthogonal calles in the newer Spanish area.
Timeline of rule
The rule from 1680 to present (with flag of the period) is:| From | To | Rule | Reason for Handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1680 | 1680 | .svg.png) Portugal |
conquered by José de Garro José de Garro Marcos José de Garro Senei de Artola, nicknamed "El Santo" , was a Spanish military man who served in many positions in the colonial administration of the Spanish Empire. He served as governor of Tucumán from 1675–1678, governor of Buenos Aires from 1678–1682 and governor of Chile from 1682-1692... |
| 1680 | 1681 |  Spain |
Provisional Treaty of Lisbon |
| 1681 | 1705 | Portugal |
conquered in the War of Spanish Succession |
| 1705 | 1713 |  Spain |
Treaty of Utrecht Treaty of Utrecht The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713... |
| 1714 | 1762 | .svg.png) Portugal |
First Cevallos expedition First Cevallos expedition The First Cevallos expedition was a military action between September 1762 and April 1763, by the Spanish forces led by Don Pedro Antonio de Cevallos, Governor of Buenos Aires, against the Portuguese in South America as part of the Seven Years' War... |
| 1762 | 1763 | Spain |
Treaty of Paris (1763) Treaty of Paris (1763) The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War... |
| 1763 | 1777 | Portugal |
Second Cevallos expedition |
| 1777 | 1811 | .svg.png) Spain |
Revolt led by José Gervasio Artigas José Gervasio Artigas José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764... |
| 1811 | 1817 |  Liga FederalLiga Federal The Federal League or League of Free Peoples was a confederal state based around Montevideo from 1815 to 1820... |
Luso-Brazilian invasion Luso-Brazilian invasion The Luso-Brazilian invasion of the Banda Oriental, also known as the Portuguese Invasion of 1816 and the War against Artigas , was an armed conflict between the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and the people of the Banda Oriental and the Misiones Province... |
| 1817 | 1822 |  Portugal |
Brazilian Declaration of Independence Brazilian Declaration of Independence The Brazilian Independence comprised a series of political events occurred in 1821–1823, most of which involved disputes between Brazil and Portugal regarding the call for independence presented by the Brazilian Kingdom... |
| 1822 | 1828 |  Brazil |
Argentina-Brazil War Argentina-Brazil War The Cisplatine War or the Argentine–Brazilian War was an armed conflict over an area known as Banda Oriental or "Eastern Shore" in the 1820s between the United Provinces of River Plate and the Empire of Brazil in the aftermath of the United Provinces' emancipation from Spain.-Background:Led by... |
| 1828 | present |  Uruguay |
Climate
Colonia del Sacramento has a mild humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, described by the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
as Cfa. Summers are warm and winters are cool, with relatively frequent frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
s and fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
. The precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 1,039 mm (40.91 in), and the annual average temperature is 17 °C (63 °F).
Points of interest
The Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) section of Colonia del Sacramento is designated a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. It is a popular tourist attraction for visitors from Buenos Aires, and there is frequent ferry service across the Río de la Plata between the two cities, with fast ferries completing the journey in just 50 minutes. The historical section of Colonia, which has some cobblestone streets built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, is within walking distance of the ferry terminal. Among the notable visitor attractions around the tree-lined Plaza Mayor (main square) are:
- Portón de Campo – the City Gate and wooden drawbridge
- Lighthouse and convent ruins of the 17th century Convent of San Francisco
- Basilica del Sanctísimo Sacramento – the Basilica of the Holy Sacrament, built of stone by the Portuguese in 1808
- Portuguese Museum – constructed in the 18th century, it exhibits Portuguese furnishings, jewelry, uniforms and old maps of Portuguese naval expeditions
- Casa de Nacarello – an 18th century Portuguese house
- Municipal Museum – rebuilt by the Spanish in 1835 as the Casa del Almirante Brown, it exhibits artifacts and documents of the city's different periods and cultures
- Viceroy's House – the Casa del Virrey, reconstructed from the original ruins
- Iglesia Matriz – the oldest church in Uruguay, dating from 1695–99
- Plaza de toros Real de San CarlosPlaza de toros Real de San CarlosPlaza de toros Real de San Carlos is a bull ring in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. It is currently a derelict building that is crumbling down. It is forbidden for safety reasons to access the bull ring.When in operation it could host 10,000 spectators...
, a Bullring included in an old tourist complex now abandoned.
Transportation
Colonia del Sacramento is served by three ferry boat lines from Buenos Aires, Argentina: "Buquebus", "Seacat Colonia" and "Colonia Express".Two principal highways terminate at Colonia: Highway #1 connects Colonia to Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
and points east; Highway #21 connects to points north, including the Aarón de Anchorena National Park, 30 kilometres (19 mi) distant, and Fray Bentos
Fray Bentos
Fray Bentos, the capital of the Río Negro Department of western Uruguay, is a port on the Uruguay River. It is close to the border with Argentina and about due north of Buenos Aires.-History:...
. There is also a local airport which can receive light aircraft. There is a project in planning to lengthen the runway and recommence flights to Buenos Aires (this was done in the past)and other cities within Uruguay.
The city is served by Laguna de los Patos International Airport
Colonia Airport
Laguna de los Patos International Airport is the airport serving Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.-History:Former operators at Colonia Airport were ARCO, Aero Uruguay and LAPA flying between Colonia and Buenos Aires-Aeroparque....
located 17km from Colonia along route 1.
External links
- Article on Colonia del Sacramento, Official Portal of the Uruguayan Government
- 360° Virtual Tours of Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay360.com.uy
- Tourist information about Colonia del Sacramento
- Tourist guide about Colonia del Sacramento – photos, hosting and attractions of Colonia del Sacramento attractions
- Colonia del Sacramento Website
- INE map of Colonia del Sacramento