Provincia de Misiones Off The Beaten Path

Explore Jesuit Ruins in Small Village

by Waxbag

San Ignacio is a small village of 5000 that contains one of the largest and best preserved of the old Jesuit Missions, San Ignacio Mini.Founded in the 17th century San Ignacio was a prosperous mission with nearly 4000 people, 35,000 cattle, and 65,000 sheep and goat. The Jesuits taught the native Guarani trades and skills as well as gave them spiritual guidance. Unfortunately for the missions and even more so for the Guarani, the Spanish and Portuguese Crowns as well as the slave traders and other private plantation found these Jesuits a nuisance to their profits and political pursuits. By 1767 the missions were completely abundant and the Gaurani had to go back to their former semi-nomadic life.San Igancio covers a large area and has an excellent church. It is an enormous red sandstone church with intricately carved doorways which is styled as "Guarani Baroque". The whole site has...