Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.
Legislative building
The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San Antonio, Limpio, Capiatá and Villa Elisa, which are part of the Central Department. The Asunción metropolitan area has more than 2 million inhabitants.
It is the home of the national government, principal port, and the chief industrial and cultural centre of the country. Local manufacturing production includes footwear, textiles, and tobacco products.
Paraguay Hero
Asunción is one of the oldest cities in South America and the longest
continually inhabited area in the River Plate Basin; for this reason that it is
known as "Mother of Cities". It was from here that the colonial expeditions
departed to found other cities, including the second foundation of Buenos Aires
and of other important cities such as Villarrica, Corrientes, Santa Fe and Santa
Cruz de la Sierra.
Station Saint Francis
The site of the city may have been first visited by Spanish conqueror Juan de Ayolas, on his way north, up the Paraguay River, looking for a passage to the mines of Alto Perú (present-day Bolivia). Later, Juan de Salazar y Espinosa and Gonzalo de Mendoza, relative of Pedro de Mendoza, were sent in search of Ayolas, but were unable to find him. On his way up and then down the river, de Salazar stopped briefly at a bay in the left bank to resupply his ships. He found the natives friendly, and decided to found a fort there, in August, 1537. As customary, he named it Asunción.
National Police
In 1541, natives destroyed Buenos Aires, and the Spaniards fled to Asunción.
Thus, the city became the center of a large Spanish colonial province comprising
part of Brazil, present-day Paraguay and northeastern Argentina: the Giant
Province of the Indies. In 1603 Asunción was the seat of the First Synod of
Asunción, which set guidelines for the evangelization of the natives in their
lingua franca, Guaraní.
In 1731, an uprising under José de Antequera y Castro was one of the first
rebellions pene against Spanish colonial rule. The uprising failed, but it was
the first sign of the independent spirit that was growing among the criollos,
mestizos and natives of Paraguay. The event influenced the independence of
Paraguay, which then materialised in 1811. The secret reunions between the
independence leaders to plan an ambush against the Spanish Governor in Paraguay
Bernardo de Velasco were held at the home of Juana María de Lara, in downtown
Asunción. On the night of May 14 and May 15 the rebels succeeded and were able
to force governor Velasco to surrender. Today, Lara's home is known as Casa de
la Independencia (House of the Independence) and serves as a museum and
historical building.
After Paraguay became independent, there was significant change in Asunción.
Under the presidency of Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia roads were built throughout
the city and the streets were named. However, it was during the presidency of
Carlos Antonio López that Asunción (and Paraguay) progressed, as the new
president implemented new economic policies. More than 400 schools, metallurgic
factories and the first railroad service in South America were built during the
López presidency. After López died, his son Francisco Solano López became the
new president and led the country through the disastrous War of the Triple
Alliance that lasted for five years. After the War of the Triple Alliance
(1865–70), Asunción was occupied by Brazilian troops until 1876.
Many historians have claimed that this war provoked a steady downfall of the
city and country, since it massacred two thirds of the country's population.
Progress slowed down greatly afterwards, and the economy remained stagnated.
Panteón Nacional de los Héroes
More Photos of Panteón Nacional de los Héroes
After the War of the Triple Alliance, Asunción began a slow recovery attempt. Towards the end of the 19th Century and during the early years of the 20th Century, a flow of immigrants from Europe and the Ottoman Empire came to the city. This led to a change in the appearance of the city as many new buildings were built and Asunción went through an era more prosperous than any since the war.
Text from Wikipedia
Sheraton Hotel
preferred cobblestone street
Start your engines !
St Andrew's Church (Anglican)
view of the river
lower town next to the river
ruling political party
customs office
cemetery entrance
selling their handcraft
on the way to the airport
