Spanish Museum

Spanish Museum featuring a small town or village


Explore this museum to learn how the Spanish settlers lived in Colonia del Sacramento in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Spanish Museum houses a collection of ruins and relics from the early Spanish rule over the area. Works of art, vintage weapons and replica costumes make up the fascinating assortment of antiques. Its aim is to teach visitors about the way the Spanish settlers lived in Colonia del Sacramento in the 17th and 18th centuries. In particular, explore the differences between Spanish and Portuguese ways of living.

Take a guided tour of the museum with an informative English-speaking member of staff. Discover ancient remnants from hundreds of years ago and learn about them through informative plaques. Capture photos of the building’s exterior. Despite its Spanish theme, the 18th-century structure is of Portuguese design. Walk around the house that once belonged to a Spanish trader. It still has its original floors and walls.

The majority of the museum’s exhibits focus on the first Spanish families who arrived toward the end of the 18th century. See old coins that were used in trade. Browse the antique armour on display, including helmets and swords, and view old documents that have survived intact for centuries. Marvel at the ceramics and works of art.

The city swapped hands between Portuguese and Spanish rule many times between the 17th and 18th centuries. This museum focuses on the relics that date back to the Spanish rule.

Buy tickets to this museum as part of a relatively inexpensive package deal at the Museo Municipal. The pass includes seven museums in the historic area of the city. The museums open their doors to the public daily from morning until late in the afternoon.

The Spanish Museum is located in the northern historic area west of Colonia del Sacramento. It is less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) from the bus stop and the ferry terminal where passengers arrive from Buenos Aires. After touring the museum, visit other sites just one block away: the Matriz Church, the Plaza de Armas and the Museo Municipal. 

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