South view of Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, Colonia del Sacramento
The parish was established on 2 February 1680, being one of the oldest in the country. The first church was a humble mud ranch. It is as old as the city itself (a former Portuguese settlement). The present church dates back to 1810, when it was built according to plans by Tomás Toribio; soon afterward a lightning storm destroyed the building, which was restored between 1836 and 1841. Finally, in 1976 a conceptual refurbishment took place. Architects José Terra Carve, Antonio Cravotto, and Miguel Ángel Odriozola worked on its restoration.
In 1995, the Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO - with it, the Basilica.
