The name Jesús de Tavarangüe means 'Jesus the town that was never finished,' as the Jesuits were expelled before it could be completed. The Spanish architect Antonio Forcada used a sedate style featuring Moorish 'mixtilinear' arches and a yellow sandstone. The church was almost finished (it never had a roof), but now only the foundations of the surrounding buildings remain.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.33 MILES
These mission ruins are the most complete in Argentina: atmospheric and impressive for the quantity of carved ornamentation still visible and for the…
0.15 MILES
The restored church at Jesús was never finished. It boasts spectacular trefoil arches (a nod to Spain’s Moorish past) and carved motifs of crossed swords…
6.17 MILES
Spectacular ruins, with the red-brown stone of the church contrasting strongly with the flower-studded green grass and surrounding hillscapes. Unlike at…
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22.65 MILES
In the afternoon, the costanera comes alive with joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, mate sippers, hot-dog vendors and young couples staring at Paraguay…
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23.92 MILES
Loreto, founded in 1632, has few visible remains but is atmospheric. There are plans for further excavation and restoration, but for now the jungle is…
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25.43 MILES
At Santa Ana, which was founded in 1633 but moved here in 1660, dense forest has been partially removed to reveal a settlement that had over 7000 Guaraní…
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19.12 MILES
Uruguayan writer Horacio Quiroga was a get-back-to-nature type who found his muse in the rough-and-ready Misiones backwoods lifestyle. He built his simple…
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6.12 MILES
A visually striking red-sandstone structure with an ornate style incorporating Roman arches, and strongly featuring the passion-flower motif, signature of…
Nearby Paraguay attractions
0.15 MILES
The restored church at Jesús was never finished. It boasts spectacular trefoil arches (a nod to Spain’s Moorish past) and carved motifs of crossed swords…
6.03 MILES
The former Jesuit quarry has now been turned into a pleasant park. The Jesuits removed the stone by hammering along fault lines until the rock broke,…
6.12 MILES
A visually striking red-sandstone structure with an ornate style incorporating Roman arches, and strongly featuring the passion-flower motif, signature of…
6.17 MILES
Spectacular ruins, with the red-brown stone of the church contrasting strongly with the flower-studded green grass and surrounding hillscapes. Unlike at…
19.12 MILES
Uruguayan writer Horacio Quiroga was a get-back-to-nature type who found his muse in the rough-and-ready Misiones backwoods lifestyle. He built his simple…
19.27 MILES
A Gaudí-esque ornamental stairway in a residential neighbourhood at the far end of Av Costanera.
19.33 MILES
These mission ruins are the most complete in Argentina: atmospheric and impressive for the quantity of carved ornamentation still visible and for the…
20.38 MILES
The Sambadromo (Carnival parade ground) is along Av Costanera, which is Encarnación's main strip for nightlife. Outside of Carnival season it is used for…