San Ignacio

About

In 1609, the first Jesuit Mission was established in San Ignacio and quickly became the center of all Jesuit missions in Paraguay. The indigenous Guarani people and the others that began to populate the area advanced the art forms of the European missionaries. Today, the town is filled with Jesuit statues, paintings, and ruins. Visitors can see examples of this work at the Jesuit Art Museum and around town. San Ignacio is considered the ‘Capital of the Hispanic-Guaraní Baroque’ because of the countless preserved pieces from that era that feature Guarani influence. Some of these works can even be seen in the Church of San Ignacio. Art is an important part of San Ignacio’s history as well as its current culture. Tourists from all over the country visit to participate in Holy Friday celebrations and see locals dress up as famous paintings in ‘the living pictures’ tradition.