Religious Sites

The Department of Colonia features a diverse religious landscape, anchored by the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, Uruguay’s oldest church founded in 1680. Beyond the Catholic landmarks in Colonia del Sacramento and Rosario, the region is uniquely defined by its Waldensian heritage. Numerous 19th-century "Valdense" churches in areas like Riachuelo reflect the history of Piedmontese immigrants who established some of the country's first Protestant communities.