The OWHC is proud to present this new video as part of the Zoom on Urban Heritage program.

During the 15^th World Congress of the OWHC, which was held in Krakow from 2 to 5 June 2019, and whose theme was “Heritage and Tourism”, this project to rehabilitate an eccentric historical monument was presented as part of the session on “Overtourism”, thus offering an alternative of tourist unloading of the historic centre of Colonia del Sacramento, inscribed on the World Heritage List.

The Plaza de Toros del Real de San Carlos in Colonia del Sacramento is a historical monument from 1910, which will be rehabilitated for cultural and sports shows. The international request for bids to carry out the works with transparency, just ended within the planned deadlines. The work will start during October 2019.

We will explore a novelty in America, the so-called “Open for works”, so that the works can be followed by visitors. We will build a safe passage with containers under the bleachers to access the inside of the arena. It will be a very interesting cultural tourist plus for the visitors that have always wanted to enter this place.

Once the works are finished, there will be no bullfighting, since it has been banned since 1912 in Uruguay. The place will be a Cultural Center, with 2200 people seated and 2000 in the arena. Visitors will be able to enjoy top-level shows of music, theatre, dance and minor sports.

Being able to visit the Plaza de Toros outside the Historic District will take pressure off from the World Heritage site which welcomes a lot of tourists. We are rehabilitating that old Plaza de Toros for culture, knowing that we did not lose it and that we are able to work to make that place a pride for all the people from Colonia del Sacramento.