Jesuit Missions of La Santisima Trinidad

Jesuit Missions of La Santisima Trinidad
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La Santisima Trinidad de Paraná, or the Holy Trinity of Paraná is the name of a former Jesuit mission in Paraguay. It is an example of one of the many Jesuit Reductions, small colonies established by the missionaries in various locations in South America throughout the 17th and 18th century. Reducciones were built as miniature city-states that integrated indigenous populations with Christian faith.

Located near the modern day city of Encarnación, Trinidad was originally constructed in 1706, the intended self-sufficient city came complete with a central meeting plaza, a large church meetinghouse, a school, several workshops, a museum and housing for the local Indian population.

Before its inscription in 1993, ICOMOS advised the Paraguayan government to turn this tentative site into an extension to the already existing Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis. The latter WHS was set up in 1984 by Argentina and Brazil. At that time Paraguay had not yet ratified the Convention and so wasn't eligible to submit site proposals. Paraguay and also the other countries involved appeared positive about a joint entry, but this wasn't followed through and so this became a separate WHS.

Year Decision Comments
1993 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Joseph Colletti (United States):
I visited the Jesuit Missions of Trinidad in August 2004. The site is accessible from the nearby city of Encarnacion (about 45 minutes) by any number of busses (about 50 cents United States) traveling frequently on the paved highway to Ciudad del Este. From the highway it's about a 10 minute walk to the site on a well marked road. Food and drink are available from roadside stands. Entrance fee is less than 50 cents in United States currency and there were only three other visitors.

A hugh roofless baroque Jesuit church that would not be out of place in a major European city dominates the site which has been cleared of any remains of the jungle that once surrounded it. The carvings of the statues, the pulpit, the baptismal font and on the walls are stunning in their beauty and amazing in that they were done by the Indian craftsmen gathered into the mission by the Jesuits in the 17th century and have survived over three hundered years of exposure. The original decorated stone floor is still visible and there is a crypt under the church into which visitors can descend. There is also a watchtower which you can climb to get a beautiful view of the site and surroundings. Remains of workshops, housing and storerooms also remain. To contemplate the work, artistry and devotion that went into building this complex in the middle of a tropical jungle gives insight into the religious fervor that drove the original Spanish settlers and affected the native Indians in so many ways. There are no paths or explanatory markers, however, though guides (in Spanish)are available in the summer (Dec to March) months.

The nearby site of Jesus, about 10 km away on an unpaved dirt road off the highway is also worth a visit. Admission is about 50 cents. It is accessible by taxi from the town of Trinidad or a local bus (about 50 cents)that makes the bumpy, slow half hour trip through hilly farmland about every two hours. This site was never completed and has been partially restored and is equally beautiful in its workmanship and setting.
 


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