Jesuit Guarani Missions, Cuenca del Plata, Argentina

We are heading northeast along the small stretch of land between Paraguay and Brasil having past Uruguay to the east. We are visiting numerous missions that were established between 1609 and 1818. These were the Jesuit Guarani Missions, which were developed in the centre of Cuenca del Plata in the countries previously mentioned. There were 30 organised settlements registering 141,182 inhabitants. Each settlement had two priests who every so often would be moved to a different settlement. Their aim was the creation of Utopias, but in reality they created suspicion and envy to those in political power. Eventually King Carlos III signed an order granting the expulsion of the Jesuit from Spanish territories. Their fall came about from slave gangs decimating there numbers, invasions and general plundering. After 1818 these sites were abandoned and left to ruin. Today many have been declared UNESCO world heritage sites. There are some beautiful remains and most of the pictures are of the Cathedral which would have been at every site. They are tranquil sites, very well constructed and amazing places to visit for a quiet few hours.

Right that's the history lesson over with, but they were worth a mention. The last picture of this set relates to Gauchito Gil, a semi mythical Robin Hood style character who was born around 1847, who refused to fight in the provinces civil war and was on the run stealing from the rich and providing to the poor. In a nutshell Gil was captured, his head about to be cut off when he mentioned to the Sgt executioner that his blood was innocent. He stated he could cure the ill and maimed and that the Sgt's son was in fact ill. After execution the Sgt returned home to indeed find his son was ill. He immediately returned to the body of Gil and gave him a decent burial and prayed, his son fully recovered and a saint like character was born after numerous other miracles were accredited o Gil. Hence now these shrines are all over the countryside at roadsides and are decorated with all manner of items, mainly empty plastic water bottles with red flags etc.

Lesson two delivered we progress further north, next stop Iguazu Falls and a day trip to Paraguay.

Adios

Tony x x


1. Ithaca on the dusty trail
2. Grounds of one of the Missions
3. Ditto
4. Cathedral entrance
5. Intricies of the pillars
6. Ditto
7. Priests quarters
8. Grounds of the priests quarters
9. One of the thousands of shrines to Gauchito Gil.