Convento de San Francisco

Colonia del Sacramento


Off the southwest corner of Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo are the ruins of the 17th-century Convento de San Francisco, within which stands the 19th-century faro. The lighthouse provides an excellent view of the old town.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Colonia del Sacramento attractions

1. Faro

0.01 MILES

One of the town’s most prominent landmarks, Colonia’s 19th-century working lighthouse provides an excellent view of the old town and the Río de la Plata…

2. Casa Nacarello

0.02 MILES

This teeny colonial home is evocative of Colonia's early days, with period furniture, thick whitewashed walls, wavy glass and original lintels (duck if…

3. Museo Municipal

0.03 MILES

Houses an eclectic collection of treasures including a whale skeleton, a re-creation of a colonial drawing room, historical timelines and a scale model of…

4. Museo Portugués

0.06 MILES

In this old house on Colonia's main square you’ll find Portuguese relics including porcelain, furniture, maps, Manuel Lobo’s family tree and the old stone…

5. Archivo Regional

0.06 MILES

On the northwest edge of Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo, the tiny Archivo Regional contains historical documents along with pottery and glass excavated from the…

6. Museo del Azulejo

0.07 MILES

This dinky 17th-century stone house has a small sampling of French and Catalan tilework.

7. Portón de Campo

0.11 MILES

The most dramatic way to enter the Barrio Histórico is via the reconstructed 1745 city gate. From here, a thick fortified wall runs south along the Paseo…

8. Iglesia Matríz

0.14 MILES

Uruguay’s oldest church – begun by the Portuguese in 1680, then completely rebuilt twice under Spanish rule – is the centerpiece of pretty Plaza de Armas…

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