Sancti Spiritu, National historic site in Puerto Gaboto, Argentina.
Sancti Spiritu is an archaeological site where a 16th-century Spanish fort once stood at the confluence of the Carcarañá and Paraná rivers. Stone foundations, pottery, and other artifacts reveal how the first settlers lived and worked in this location.
Sebastián Caboto founded this location in 1527 as Argentina's first European settlement. However, indigenous peoples destroyed it in 1529, leading to its eventual abandonment.
The chapel served as a meeting place where Spanish settlers and Guaraní people formed bonds during the early colonial period. These encounters shaped how locals today understand their region's foundational years.
Visit through guided tours departing from Puerto Gaboto, where excavation areas are open year-round for exploration. The warmer months offer the most comfortable conditions for walking around and examining the remains.
When indigenous peoples burned the fort in 1529, they left behind a wealth of artifacts still being unearthed by archaeologists. These discoveries offer a window into daily life at one of the continent's oldest European settlements.
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