Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is a charming, quiet historical town across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The city was founded by the Portuguese in 1680, but the Spanish took control in 1777 after settlers lost their resistance battle. In the Barrio Histórico, ruins of the former surrounding stone wall and city gate remain, along with brick foundations, a portion of the Convento de San Francisco, an old Jesuit college, rusted cannons a few general buildings, which now house museums.

Shops, art galleries and restaurants line many of the old city streets, as Colonia has gentrified into a tourist town: leather goods, yerba mate gourds and cups, fine woolen items and art works abound. Prices are noticeably higher than in Buenos Aires.

Colonia can be visited easily in a day trip from Argentina via a one-hour ferry. There are a few hotels, posadas and B&Bs in town, and for a resort experience, the Four Seasons Resort Carmelo is about an hour away north along the river.