Santa Maria

About

A settlement originally destroyed by raiding Portuguese bandits, the residents of Santa Maria were able to save a number of paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts, and bring them to their new village. This "new" village was founded in 1669 in its current location and continues to cherish the artistic legacy of the original Jesuit missions and "reductions" in the area. The museum that houses many of the original artifacts from the original settlement is considered to be the best in the region and should not be missed when visiting Santa Maria. That artistic spirit continues to this day as the women of the village create beautiful and traditional clothwork that highlight authentic scenes of village life. While the community is one of the poorer in the country, the locals are nonetheless inviting and eager to show off their beautifully rustic community located in the pristine countryside.