San Ignacio, Paraguay

Infobox City
official_name = San Ignacio
motto
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image_shield =Coat_of_arms_of_Paraguay.svg


mapsize = 200px
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Paraguay
subdivision_type1 = Department
subdivision_name1 = Misiones
leader_title = Intendente Municipal
leader_name = Lic. Crispiniano Mazacotte (ANR)
established_title = Founded
established_date = December 29th, 1609;Fathers Marcial de Lorenzana and Francisco de San Martín, helped by the Chief Arapysandú
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 = 2020
area_land_sq_mi =
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area_urban_sq_mi =
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population_as_of = 2008
population_note =
population_total = 24468 hab.
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 12
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = -4 Gmt
utc_offset =
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latd=26 |latm=53 |lats=12 |latNS=S
longd=57 |longm=01 |longs=42 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 124
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 4750
area_code = (595) (82)
website =

San Ignacio Guasú is a city of Paraguay, in the Misiones Department, located 225 kilometers from Asunción.

Geography

It is located to the south of Asunción, and can be accessed by the Route No. 1 “Mcal. Francisco Solano López”.

Climate

In summer, the maximum temperature is 39º C, in winter the minimum is 0º C. The annual media is about 21º C.

Demography

The surface of San Ignacio Guasú is 2,020 square kilometers and has a population of 24,468 habitants in total, 12,095 men and 12,373 women, according to the projections of the General Direction of Statistic, Polls and Census. It is the most populated city of the Misiones Department.

The Reinfeld community is a few kilometers away from San Ignacio, in this, there are about 30 families of Canadian origins that have lived in the country for more than 40 years now. Their houses are picturesque and with colorful gardens, that mix with soy, corn and sorghum crops.

History

It was founded on December 29th, 1609 by the Jesuit Priests Marcial de Lorenzana and Francisco de San Martín, accompany by Cacique (native word for “chief”) Arapysandú, who took them to his lands, where they built an altar and celebrated the first mass.

The Jesuit Mission was established officially in 1610 with the name of “San Ignacio Guasú” so it wouldn’t be confused with another mission “San Ignacio Miní” in Misiones, Argentina. In February of the same year, Father Roque González de Santa Cruz organized the mission, turning it into the center of all the Jesuit missions in Paraguay. The Jesuits that founded other towns such as: Santa Rosa, Santiago, Santa María, San Cosme y Damián and even Encarnación, left from San Ignacio in order to do so.

Originally located in the area where nowadays is “Santa Rita”, moved to “Santiago” and later to the current location.

The first habitants of San Ignacio were the natives that learned many arts from the European masters.

Economy

San Ignacio is an important center for commerce, cattle and agriculture, besides from the historical and cultural richness. His strategic location, in the central area of the department and with several road sections, its population is the one with the most dynamic and economical activity of the department.

In San Ignacio, the campus of the Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción – UCA (Catholic University of Our Lady of the Ascension) offers the young people studies of: Science of Education, Law and Social Sciences, Administration, Accounting and Informatics Engineering.

Tourism

It is considered “Capital of the Hispanic-Guaraní Period Baroque”, because of the countless pieces of art from that time that is preserve in the city. Some of them are pieces of the church of San Ignacio.

In the Diocesan Museum of Jesuit Art, that is from the time of the Spanish colony, are found statues of saints and objects of great value and variety, plus documents and maps from the first Jesuit mission in Paraguay. This museum is directed by the priests of the Company of Jesus, and it is organized in four halls:

* The Creation (allegory: The Word of God, the fight between Good and Evil, and an image of a child guided by an Angel of the Creation)
* The Redemption (statues of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus)
* History of Christ in the Church (images of saints)
* Jesuit Company (recreation of the history of the company that founded the missions)

Other historical places are the Museum of the Chaco Heroes “Museo Semblanza de Héroes” that has a collection of objects from the War of Chaco and the War against the Triple Alliance. The House of Culture, a house from the time of the colony that is example of the architecture of the period. One of these houses is in the Documentation Center of “Files of the Dictatorial Government of Stroessner / House of the Victims 1954-1989, and it is located in across from the church.

Every year, in January, the festivity of the Missioner Tradition is celebrated, in which are exhibited the folkloric traditions of the country, the ability for riding horses and the food. The most typical food in the area is the “batiburrillo”.

In Tañarandy, a company of the city, the front of the houses is usually painted with illustrations of the work their habitants do. In this place settled the natives that didn’t allowed to be dominated by the Jesuit, the name means “land of the demons” or “land of the heretic”.

A tradition of the habitants is that the Holy Friday, at sunset, a great procession march with candles, reliving one of the oldest catholic rituals, the singing and the “jetopa” (Guaraní word for “gathering”) of the people in the Stations of the Cross. Tourist from all around the country as well as other from outside come around this date to see “the living pictures”, when local actors represent famous painting in a special scenography. This activity was promoted by the Paraguayan artist Koki Ruíz, and counts with the support of the entire community of San Ignacio.

On May 15, it is celebrated a festivity in honor of San Isidro Labrador, in the neighborhood that carries his name. On July 31 is the festivity of San Ignacio.

References

* Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
* Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL,
* EVP - Wikipedia
* [http://www.evp.edu.py/index.php?title=Portada Enciclopedia Virtual Paraguaya - Portal]

External links

* [http://www.sanignacioguazu.com/ Página de la Ciudad de San Ignacio Misiones]
* [http://www.senatur.gov.py/ Secretaria Nacional de Turismo]
* [http://www.estacioncreativa.com/jhs/html/visita_sanignacio.htm Las Ruinas Jesuiticas, una civilización latente]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PA/12/San_Ygnacio.html Coord. geográficas e imágenes satelitales de "San Ignacio"]