The Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue (Spanish: Misiones Jesuíticas de La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná y Jesús de Tavarangue) are in the Itapúa Department, Paraguay. These religious missions were built by Jesuit missioners during the colonization of South America in the 17th century. They were created in 1609 and lasted for 150 years. Both missions were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1993.

The Jesuit missions of Paraguay are among the most impressive works of the Jesuits' religious efforts. They show the rich history of the country.

History

Aleixo Garcia met Paraguay in 1524. The country’s growth in politics, economy, and society happened slowly and was marked by fighting between Spanish conquerors and native people, who tried to protect their land.

By 1590, the Spanish had created 10 cities and 40 colonies in South America. Native people were required to work for the Spanish under the Encomienda system.

The Spanish king made rules to improve the lives of native people, but it was hard to control how these rules were followed. The Encomienda system caused many uprisings by the native people.

Real improvements in the lives of the native people began only after the establishment of missions.

The first Jesuits arrived in Tucumán in 1586 and in 1587, at the request of Bishop Alonso Guerra of Asunción.

The Jesuits began spreading Christianity and building towns or missions in the regions of Misiones and Itapúa Departments in Paraguay.

Their first task was to create towns where native people could live independently in their areas. They studied the Guaraní language, which the native people spoke, to develop a writing system (because the Guaraní people did not write their language before). The missionaries taught religion and also set rules for public order, culture, education, and society, which greatly influenced Paraguay’s later development. Native people, who lived as nomads and were not used to an organized life, began to live in small groups in the forest. Near the Jesuit missions, groups of 2,000 or 3,000 people lived in each town.

These missionaries built about 30 missions in areas that are now part of Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Many of the buildings still exist today, and those that were damaged have been rebuilt.

Santísima Trinidad del Paraná Ruins

The Santísima Trinidad del Paraná Mission is the largest of all the missions. People from the San Carlos mission (now located in Argentina) founded it in 1712.

This mission has the largest temple built by the Jesuit Missions. The temple’s altar is made from a single piece of stone and shows how some people were treated unfairly during that time. The mission also has a central square, which was a place where people gathered, and a museum. The museum is in the old sacristy and displays sculptures and a model of the mission.

People are working to restore and keep the ruins in good condition.

It is recognized as a Cultural Patrimony of Humankind.

Jesús de Tavarangue Ruins

The church of Reducción de Jesús (Jesus’ Mission) was being built when the Jesuits were forced to leave Río de la Plata Province. It would have been one of the largest churches of that time, with a central building 70 meters long and 24 meters wide.

It would have been a copy of the Sanctuary of Loyola in Spain. The three front doors are very impressive.

In 1993, UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site, declaring it a Cultural Patrimony of Humankind. It is considered one of the most important buildings among the 30 Jesuit towns in the region.

Features such as the stone pulpit, decorations with angels, rose-shaped carvings on the door frames, and the bell tower are notable parts of its architecture.

The ruins of these missions show a way of life and education that reflects a unique style.

Access to the ruins

The ruins in Paraguay may be the most well-preserved, and include the missions of Jesús, San Cosme y Damián, and Trinidad.

To reach these locations, travelers must take Route No. 6 from Encarnación. The entrances to all the missions are marked along the route.

The entrance to the Trinidad ruins is located 700 meters from Route No. 6 at the "km 31" marker. About 1 kilometer past that point, the entrance to the ruins of Jesús de Tavarangue is found. The site of the Jesús ruins is 12 kilometers from this entrance and can be reached easily by taxi or bus.