Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay

Colonia del Sacramento is widely visited by tourists, especially those coming in from neighboring countries, because of its Historic Quarter. It is an old part of the town that has kept its old-world charm.

Part of this Historic Quarter is the Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay.

Location

Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay is located within Barrio Historíco, otherwise known as the Historic Quarter. It is very close to the ferry terminal in the city.

Getting There

If you will be arriving in Colonia del Sacramento via a ferry boat, you can easily walk to Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay as it is within walking distance to the terminal.

If you will be arriving via bus from one the cities in Uruguay, once you get off at the city centre; you can find a bus terminal with buses that travel within the city. The terminal is only about a kilometer off the southern section of the city centre.

As there is no international airport in Colonia del Sacramento and you are flying in to Uruguay; your best option is to arrive via the international airport in Montevideo; from which you can either take a ferry or bus ride to reach Colonia del Sacramento.

What to See and Do

Visiting the Historic Quarter of the city, you can view Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay. Going inside the bull ring however is prohibited as it is a crumbling structure so for safety purposes; exploring the grounds of the bull ring is not allowed.

The bull ring was once part of a major tourist complex in this part of Colonia del Sacramento which also included a hotel, a court for playing jai alai and a race track.

The race track is the only remaining operational section of the complex.

There are restaurants lining the main square where you can have meals or refreshments after exploring the entire Historic Quarter.

Brief History

Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay was designed after a traditional Moorish bull ring. The size of the bull ring could accommodate up to ten thousand spectators at a time.

It hosted its very first bull fight in the year 1910, on the 9th of January. Before bull fighting was banned in the country in the year 1912, the stadium played host to about eight bull fights.

Cost

There are no fees collected from visitors wishing to view Plaza de Torros in Colonia del Sacramento – Uruguay.

Around Colonia del Sacramento, there are various types of accommodations that you can choose from.

Dormitory-style rooms cost about US$10 up to US$12 per person, per night. Hotel rooms on the other hand, cost about US$100 per room, per night.

Other Information

The Historic Quarter is lined with cobblestone streets from which you can view traditional houses, a lighthouse that gives an excellent view of the town, the City Gate and the Portuguese Museum.