Plaza de los Héroes
A memorial and neat gardens.
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Villarrica del Espíritu Santo is a historic city in central eastern Paraguay, capital of Guairá Department and its largest city. It lies near the green Ybytyruzú hills and is known as a cultural hub, with wide squares, old buildings and a theatre, well away from the bustle of Asunción. Ruy Díaz de Melgarejo founded it in 1570, making it one of the oldest settlements in the country. Its first site lay in what is now Brazil, and its people had to move seven times in over a hundred years, mainly because of attacks by Portuguese bandeirantes, until they settled here in 1683. That earned it the name «Wandering City». After 1870 it grew quickly, becoming the second most important city in the country. Plaza de los Héroes has a white memorial, paths and neat gardens, surrounded by fine buildings such as the columned town hall and the white municipal theatre. St Claire Cathedral looks over tree-lined streets with its tower, and a museum occupies an old house with a tiled roof. Manuel Ortiz Guerrero Park has a small lake with swan boats, and you may come across tame capybaras. It is 131 km in a straight line from Asunción, so a night here is better. From taller buildings you can see the line of the Ybytyruzú hills. Give the morning to the squares and the late afternoon to the park, when the heat eases. Do not approach or feed the animals, and respect the cathedral as a place of worship, with modest dress and quiet.
A memorial and neat gardens.
A lake, boats and capybaras.
A white arched front.
Capital of Guairá Department, central eastern Paraguay
Because its people moved seven times before settling here in 1683.
The distance from Asunción is fairly long, so one night is better.