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All Uruguay Colonia Del Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse
AO Edited

Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse

Constructed on the ruins of a convent, this tower saved countless lives.

Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay

Added By
Jeremy Dunn
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El Faro and the ruins of the convent.   Jeremy D / Atlas Obscura User
El Faro and the ruins of the convent.   Jeremy D / Atlas Obscura User
The view west over Rio de la Plata.   Jeremy D / Atlas Obscura User
The beacon - solar powered since 1997.   Jeremy D / Atlas Obscura User
Looking east, over historic Colonia.   Jeremy D / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Towering over trees   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
Looking north.   Jeremy D / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Rising 112 feet above the city's historic quarter, construction on this lighthouse began in 1845. Designed by soldiers, the project was placed on-hold due to the outbreak of civil war. Work wasn't officially completed until 1857.

Built-in 1690, the Convent of San Francisco Javier was close to the waterfront of this Portuguese settlement. The chapel's tower served as an important landmark for boats navigating the Rio de la Plata. In 1705, the convent was destroyed by a fire, however, all was not lost. Eventually, the tower was reconstructed to create the lighthouse. The remaining convent walls added structural stability and are still visible today.

The Rio de la Plata is actually an estuary formed by the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers. Both are important trade routes connecting much of central South America to the outside world. Strong winds from the Atlantic have caused many shipwrecks, so many that the Rio de la Plata has been called "the hell of sailor's" and is known as a naval graveyard.

The top of the lighthouse provides a nice vantage point to view the city. The city's historic quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Related Tags

Lighthouses Architecture History & Culture Shipwrecks

Community Contributors

Added By

Jeremy D

Edited By

ski queen, breaingram, jedbutler76, Manta

  • ski queen
  • breaingram
  • jedbutler76
  • Manta

Published

February 11, 2021

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Sources
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faro_de_Colonia_del_Sacramento
  • https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/747/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_del_Sacramento
  • https://www.coloniauy.com/convento-san-francisco/
  • https://www.welcomeuruguay.com/colonia/shipwrecks-treasures-museum.html
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgSrCh6WY3g
Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse
63 De Solís
Colonia Del Sacramento, 70000
Uruguay
-34.472799, -57.852234
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Plaza de Toros

Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay

miles away

Casa de Botellas 'La Fortaleza'

Quilmes, Argentina

miles away

Fuente de las Nereidas

Buenos Aires, Argentina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Colonia Del Sacramento

Colonia Del Sacramento

Uruguay

Places 2

Nearby Places

Plaza de Toros

Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay

miles away

Casa de Botellas 'La Fortaleza'

Quilmes, Argentina

miles away

Fuente de las Nereidas

Buenos Aires, Argentina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Colonia Del Sacramento

Colonia Del Sacramento

Uruguay

Places 2

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