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Overlooking the banks of the Paraguay River, the Palacio de Gobierno or Palacio de Lopez is the present seat of the government. Construction began in 1857 as residence of general Francisco Solano Lopez son of the then President of the Republic, Don Carlos Antonio Lopez conceived in a neoclassic style, exhibits a monumental structure with French-Latin lines. After the war of the Triple Alliance, the palace was abandoned and not completed until the late 19th century.
On our visit we had a great time just roaming around and taking in the sights of this busy border town . We stopped for a coke at a little "whole in the Wall" cafe and had a great chat in even with our limited Spanish with the owner. He was so friendly and welcoming. He and his wife own the little spot and rely on the flood of day trippers for their livelihood. His name was Carlos!!We were looking for a Paraguay Tshirt and he hustled up the guys in the next shop to track one down for us. Unfortunately it was a bright red and white striped one.Oh well!
The border town of Ciudad del Este is shear madness. I have to admit I love to shop in markets but the stuff here is such junk..straight from China I'd say and not the good knockoff stuff. We enjoyed the chaos though and it was pretty much what we expected.
This small museum is one of the few houses that survive from spanish colonial era in Asuncion. Most of colonial Asuncion was destroyed in the 19th century. The house where the Museum is located nowadays was built in 1772 by the Spanish settler Antonio Martínez Sáenz. The walls were constructed with adobe; with thatched roof and its framework was made of bamboo and palm wood. In 1811, precisely in the night of the May 14, a group of brave Paraguayans came out of this house to declare the independence of Paraguay.The museum is divided into several rooms each with 18th and 19th century furniture and objects and well as important documents.Cost: FreeOpen: (Check first, they change schedules frequently) Mon.-Fri 7-6:30; Sat. 8-noon
The fifty years "young" city of Ciudad del Este grew much during the construction of the huge nearby hydroelectric project, and now survives by being Argentina´s and Brazil´s shopping center for all sorts of illegaly imported goods. Smuggling is here a way of life. For everyone who thinks of government as a nightmare and for those who pray to the bible of Laisser-faire, Ciudade del Este is a paradise. When arriving first time to Ciudad del Este, you will have the impression of being in a place that cannot exist. Motorcycles run crazily in the streets, there is no place in the sidewalks to walk, and still more you will be surrounded by groups of vendors at every step you give in the streets. They will go offer to you everything from stockings, panties through 'viagra', to car tools or DVD's. Things are very cheap here, but I really do not know why.And there is plenty to choose from. Lots...
Casa de la Independencia, built in 1772, is said to be Asunción's oldest building. This puzzles me somewhat as Casa Viola at Casas de Manzana was built in 1750. Maybe it's because the latter has largely been rebuilt whereas Casa de la Independencia is still in its original state. It is a modest whitewashed building with a tiled roof. It takes its name from the fact that in 1811 the Paraguayan declaration of independence took place here.Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-6.30pm, Sat8am-12.30pmAdmission free
This is a group of colonial houses, which have been restored to perfect condition and are now used for various cultural activities. The Casas de la Manzana are: Casa Viola, Casa Clari, Casa Clari-Mestre, Casa Vertúa, Casa Emasa, Casa Castelví, Casa Serra I, Casa Serra II and Casa Ballario. Asunción's city museum, the Museo Memoria de la Ciudad, is in the oldest one, Casa Viola, which dates from 1750. Most of the others are only just over a hundred years old. There is also a restaurant, with a terrace overlooking the Palacio de Gobierno.The houses offer a pleasant refuge from the poverty and squalor of downtown Asunción, but they are nowhere near as old and interesting as the colonial houses in some other South American cities, such as Cuzco and Paraty.Opening hours: 9am-5pmAdmission free
Ciudad del Este, formerly known as Puerto Presidente Stroessner, is a bustling border town and river port, which has become the main centre for buying duty free electrical goods, not only for Paraguayans, but for Brazilians and Argentinians as well. Ciudad del Este generates about 60% of Paraguay's total GDP, and it is one of the largest tax-free commercial zones in the world. It's economy is booming so much that it now looks much richer and grander than the capital city of Asunción. Modern skyscrapers full of shopping malls are separated by alleyways packed with market stalls. The city is linked to the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu by the Friendship Bridge and most foreign visitors come here as a side trip before or after visiting Iguaçu Falls.
Paraguay's neoclassical government palace, the Palacio de Gobierno, is the only grand building in Asunción It was constructed between 1860-1892, and owned by the Lopez family. It puts the rest of the poverty-stricken city in the shade.
Always wanted to see a statue of former Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner (and who hasn't!) but didn't know where to find one? Well, near the Palacio Gobierno in downtown Asuncion is a statue of former dictator Alfredo Stroessner, sort of. It is actually pieces from a destroyed statue used to make a new piece of art.
Asuncion Palace Hotel Asunción
1 Review and 45 Opinions We found it difficult to find budget or cheap accommodation in Asuncion. There didn't seem to be any...
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