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All Paraguay Trinidad La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná
AO Edited

La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná

Of the many Jesuit missions in South America, this complex is one of the best preserved.

Trinidad, Paraguay

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  ogwen/CC BY-SA 3.0
  Maurice Chédel/CC BY-SA 3.0
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A door with a view   jon5cents / Atlas Obscura User
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Steps down to the crypt   jon5cents / Atlas Obscura User
Stone heads from the ruins preserved in the museum there   jon5cents / Atlas Obscura User
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About

During the 17th and 18th century, Jesuit missionaries founded dozens of settlements in South America, especially in Paraguay, northern Argentina, and southern Brazil, in an effort to colonize the area and evangelize the locals. 

The expansion of European empires heightened interest in mission societies, who saw opportunity in newly colonized territories and their native peoples. Each of these missions would effectively function as a "state within a state," remaining autonomous and isolated from Spanish and Portuguese rule. The result was self-contained societies in which Indigenous people and the European settlers lived together. Though the locals were not forced into living in the missions, they were expected to convert to Christianity.

Paraguay contains some of the best-preserved and easily accessible examples of Jesuit missions, like La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and the nearby Jesús de Tavarangüe, a reduction located in the south of the country, in the small town of Trinidad. This mission was one of the latest ones, being founded in 1706. It featured a large central plaza, a church, a school, a museum, several workshops, and houses.

The Jesuits were expelled from Spanish colonies in 1768, and all the missions were abandoned. Many were looted by people searching for gold or other goods left behind by the missionaries. But la Santísima Trinidad de Paraná was mostly spared from destruction, along with the nearby mission of Jesús de Tavarangue.

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Colonialism Christianity Ruins Indigenous

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StepYoshi

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Michelle Cassidy, jon5cents

  • Michelle Cassidy
  • jon5cents

Published

May 13, 2021

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Sant%C3%ADsima_Trinidad_de_Paran%C3%A1
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit_Missions_of_La_Sant%C3%ADsima_Trinidad_de_Paran%C3%A1_and_Jes%C3%BAs_de_Tavarangue
La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná
Unnamed Road
Trinidad
Paraguay
-27.132337, -55.702025
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Nearby Places

Jesuit Mission of Jesús de Tavarangüe

Jesús de Tavarangue, Paraguay

miles away

Cândido Godói

Cândido Godói, Brazil

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paraguay

Paraguay

South America

Places 5
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Jesuit Mission of Jesús de Tavarangüe

Jesús de Tavarangue, Paraguay

miles away

Cândido Godói

Cândido Godói, Brazil

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paraguay

Paraguay

South America

Places 5
Stories 4

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