Plaza Mayor

Here we are in the Plaza Mayor del 25 de Mayo, one of the most emblematic and busy esplanades of the old town of Colonia del Sacramento. When stopping at this point, it is easy to see how the period architecture, the sinuous layout and the characteristic cobblestones of the area immediately evoke the origins of the city. History. This space arose in parallel with the establishment of the military settlement in 1680, founded by the Portuguese Manuel Lobo. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Colonia del Sacramento changed hands on multiple occasions between the crowns of Spain and Portugal due to its strategic location opposite Buenos Aires, on the northern bank of the Río de la Plata. The square fulfilled an essential function as a civil meeting center, local commerce and military passage within the walled enclosure. Over time, the place adopted various names depending on the political context. In 1868 it was named Plaza 25 de Mayo in tribute to the revolutionary feat of the River Plate. Later, through a heritage restoration and conservation project promoted by the Honorary Executive Council and the Departmental Board of Colonia in 1972, it was decided to merge the colonial historical designation with the national tribute, making its name official as Plaza Mayor del 25 de Mayo. Present. Today, the square is the heart of the activity…

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