Mission São João Batista

Mission São João Batista is an archaeological site in Rio Grande do Sul with remains of a Jesuit settlement including church foundations, a cemetery, and a school building. The structures are spread across the grounds and can be explored with the help of interpretive signs placed throughout the area.

The settlement was founded in 1697 to establish connections between European colonizers and the Guarani people. The mission served as a center for colonial activities and shows how European institutions and indigenous cultures came together during that era.

The site shows how Jesuit missionaries and Guarani people lived and worked together through building styles and everyday objects left behind. Recovered items tell the story of shared daily activities and interactions at this place.

The site is located between Santo Ângelo and São Miguel das Missões with regular visiting hours for guests. The grounds feature interpretive signs that help explain the excavated structures and their purposes.

Excavations have revealed patterns of colonial life through a variety of objects recovered from the 17th century. These findings show details about crafts, food, and technical skills of people who lived at this location long ago.