The gate
Arch and crest.
Liam Quinn from Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Liam Quinn from Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · User:HalloweenHJB — CC BY-SA 3.0
The old town's main gate, built by the Portuguese in 1745 in the walls that ringed Colonia, with a stone arch topped by carving and a coat of arms, which visitors now cross by a wooden drawbridge, rebuilt in 1971, over a dry moat. On either side are remains of the massive stone walls and colonial fortifications, grown over with grass and plants, giving a sense of the fortified town that Spain and Portugal took from each other several times. Passing through the gate is the finest way into the historic quarter, stepping straight from modern streets into cobbled lanes and old houses. Around it are green space, benches and restaurants. The gate is lit at night and best photographed in the morning before the tour buses arrive. Colonia is about two and a half hours by bus from Montevideo and an hour or more by ferry from Buenos Aires, so many visit in a day.
Arch and crest.
Over the moat.
Old fortifications.
Eastern entrance to the historic quarter, Colonia del Sacramento
Calle de los SuspirosColonia's best-known and most photographed street, a short, narrow lane sloping 1 minute walk4.6
Historic Quarter of Colonia del SacramentoOne of South America's loveliest colonial towns, founded by the Portuguese in 162 minutes walk
Colonia del Sacramento LighthouseAn elegant white lighthouse at the heart of the historic quarter, built in 1857 2 minutes walk4.5The wooden drawbridge was rebuilt in 1971 in its old form; the stone gate dates from 1745.