Carved stones
Across the site.
The archaeological site of São João Batista holds the remains of one of the «Seven Peoples», the villages founded by the Jesuits with the Guaraní in the Missions region, at São João Velho in the municipality of Entre-Ijuís, a short way from São Miguel das Missões and reached by the BR-285. The village was founded in 1697 when São Miguel was split because of its growing population and supply problems, and 2,832 people moved from there. Its founder, Anton Sepp, was a man of many talents, skilled in music, architecture, town planning, clockmaking, painting and sculpture. He was also the pioneer of metalworking in the Missions, extracting iron by heating the «itacuru» stone common in the area and casting bells from it. His masterpiece was a great clock on the village tower, across whose face small figures paraded whenever it struck the hours. The site now keeps the remains of the village's main buildings, the school, pottery works, a dam and old roads, with pieces carved in sandstone scattered around. Information panels tell its history from letters written by the priests of the time, and guided tours are available.
Across the site.
Musician and builder.
Information panels.
São João Velho, Entre-Ijuís municipality, off the BR-285, Rio Grande do Sul
Yes, the two sites are close on the same road.