Colonia del Sacramento

The picturesque city of Colonia del Sacramento sits by the eastern bank of Río de la Plata and is one of the oldest settlements in the country. The city's beginnings date as far back as 1680, when it was founded by Portuguese colonist Manuel Lobo. Owing to its rich history and romantic undertones, the city serves as the rightful capital of Uruguay's Colonia Department; its numerous colonial-age structures being proof enough of this deserving title. At the center of all its glory is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Barrio Historico or Historic Quarter- a neighborhood frozen in time that's strewn with narrow cobbled-stone streets, lined with rows of canopied sycamores, imposing vintage structures and an air of romance that stems from Portuguese and Spanish cultural influences. The city is now a popular summer vacation destination whose inexplicable colonial charm, riverfront sunsets and all-round beauty draws in hordes of tourists from around the world.