On 1 January 1680, the Portuguese arrived at the mouth of the Río de la Plata and on the 20th occupied San Gabriel Island.

Between the 20th and 28th of the same month, Manuel Lobo founded Nova Colônia do Santíssimo Sacramento, which was the first European settlement and the first and oldest city in present-day Uruguay.

Its location opposite Buenos Aires made it a strategic enclave for trade and navigation, but also a focus of conflict.

 

Throughout the 18th century, Colonia was disputed between the Portuguese and the Spanish, changing hands on numerous occasions. On 5 March 1807, the British seized Cologne from Spanish rule, fomenting feelings of independence in the region. In 1813, Colonia became part of the Eastern Province.

In 1818, after 40 years, it was reoccupied by Portugal during the Portuguese-Brazilian invasion of 1816.

Finally, on 2 December 1828, it came under the sovereignty of the State of Uruguay.

 

With the independence of the new republics, Colonia lost its strategic importance. The city walls and citadel were demolished in 1859 in an attempt by the state to modernise and expand the city. This, combined with a lack of investment, led to the deterioration of the old town. During this period, it became a humble, steadily deteriorating neighbourhood, far from its original splendour.

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In the middle of the 20th century, efforts began to recover the city's heritage, restoring colonial buildings and reclaiming its architectural and historical richness. Part of the wall and the Gate of Colonia del Sacramento were rebuilt in the 1970s.
The historic quarter was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, promoting its revival as a tourist and cultural destination.

Today, Colonia del Sacramento is a symbol of historical resistance and heritage revitalisation. The project A Look into the Past seeks to reinforce this connection between memory and the present, highlighting how the city has preserved its essence over time and its architectural and historical value.