Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangüé, Religious mission ruins in Itapúa Department, Paraguay
La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangüé are Jesuit mission ruins featuring stone churches, residential quarters, workshops, and central plazas spread across large grounds. The structures display varying states of preservation and reveal how these communities were organized and built.
Both missions were established in the 17th century as religious and economic centers for the local population. They came to an end in 1768 when the Spanish crown expelled the Jesuits from South American territories.
The sites display a blend of European design principles and Guaraní craftsmanship, particularly visible in the stone carvings and the way buildings are arranged across the grounds. You can sense how these two traditions came together in the construction methods and decorative details.
Visitors reach the missions via Route 6 from Encarnación; Trinidad is closer to the highway while Jesús is farther away. It works well to visit both in one day if you allow time to walk around the extensive grounds.
The church at Trinidad features an altar carved from a single stone block, demonstrating the exceptional skills of the craftspeople who worked there. This monolithic creation remains a testament to the technical mastery that existed within these missions.
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