The reason for my visit to San Ignacio were the world heritage Jesuit ruins located here. In the 17th century, jesuits built a number of villages in South America trying to convert the native population to catholicism. They did so by using art as a means to transport their religious beliefs. Although I believe evangelization to be despicable, their approach wasn't all bad: they learned the local language, Guaraní, they taught the natives to read and write, and protected them from the slave labor that spaniards typically submitted the natives to.
Eventually, the jesuits were forced to leave America because Spain perceived them as too powerful. The villages were abandoned and later destroyed in various wars. So today, all that remains are ruins.
I arrived in the late afternoon when all the big tour groups had already left. There weren't many other people around, just many of the ruins' current inhabitants: lizards in all colors and sizes :-)
These are the remains of the large church in the village:
And, as a contrast, this is how it supposedly looked like back in the day:
Finally, here are some more details of the ornaments to be found in the ruins. The architectural style found in these villages is termed Guaraní Baroque, due to the influence of the native artwork.
I guess the contrast to the raw power of the Iguazú falls, and the tourist crowds there, couldn't have been greater than in this small village with its huge empty ruins :-)
Eventually, the jesuits were forced to leave America because Spain perceived them as too powerful. The villages were abandoned and later destroyed in various wars. So today, all that remains are ruins.
I arrived in the late afternoon when all the big tour groups had already left. There weren't many other people around, just many of the ruins' current inhabitants: lizards in all colors and sizes :-)
These are the remains of the large church in the village:
And, as a contrast, this is how it supposedly looked like back in the day:
Finally, here are some more details of the ornaments to be found in the ruins. The architectural style found in these villages is termed Guaraní Baroque, due to the influence of the native artwork.
I guess the contrast to the raw power of the Iguazú falls, and the tourist crowds there, couldn't have been greater than in this small village with its huge empty ruins :-)
