Guide de voyage: Département de San Ignacio 2026

Département de San Ignacio : idées de séjour, infos pratiques et culturelles

Département de San Ignacio
Département de San Ignacio
The impressive gateway of the church stands as testament to the power the Jesuit missions held over the local populations. This red sandstone gateway once stood 30ft tall (10m) as it welcomed the native Christian population into it's cavernous interior.

San Ignacio Mini was a Jesuit mission established in 1610 with the aim of converting the local GuaranĂ­ natives. The mission moved to this location in 1666 and a large complex was erected to house and protect up to 4000 converts. The complex was built in Spanish baroque style around a central courtyard and included a large church, school, hospital, cemetery, dormitories and workshops.

The mission was largely abandoned when the Jesuits were expelled by Spanish decree in 1767, and was then destroyed by Paraguayan decree some 50 years later. The remains of the mission were rediscovered in 1897 and are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Although all of the woodwork and much of the stonework has been lost, this small side entrance to the church exemplifies the level of detail and craftsmanship that went into the construction of Jesuit missions.

San Ignacio Mini was a Jesuit mission established in 1610 with the aim of converting the local GuaranĂ­ natives. The mission moved to this location in 1666 and a large complex was erected to house and protect up to 4000 converts. The complex was built in Spanish baroque style around a central courtyard and included a large church, school, hospital, cemetery, dormitories and workshops.

The mission was largely abandoned when the Jesuits were expelled by Spanish decree in 1767, and was then destroyed by Paraguayan decree some 50 years later. The remains of the mission were rediscovered in 1897 and are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The red sandstone remains of the church at this 350 year old Jesuit mission are impressive. It once stood 30ft tall (10m) and covered an area 240ft long and 79ft wide (74m x 24m). Although none of the woodwork remains, some of the original floor tiles are still in place.

San Ignacio Mini was a Jesuit mission established in 1610 with the aim of converting the local GuaranĂ­ natives. The mission moved to this location in 1666 and a large complex was erected to house and protect up to 4000 converts. The complex was built in Spanish baroque style around a central courtyard and included a large church, school, hospital, cemetery, dormitories and workshops.

The mission was largely abandoned when the Jesuits were expelled by Spanish decree in 1767, and was then destroyed by Paraguayan decree some 50 years later. The remains of the mission were rediscovered in 1897 and are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.