Yaguarón (town)
Encyclopedia
Yaguarón is a city in Paraguay
, located at the base of Yaguarón Hill in the Yaguarón District
of Paraguarí Department
, 48 kilometres (29.8 mi) from the capital Asunción
. The town began as a Franciscan
reservation for the Guaraní Indians.
It contains a famous and visually stunning church, the building of which, led by Fray Alonso de Buenaventura, started in 1640 and took 60 years to complete.
Yaguarón is also notable as the birthplace of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
, dictator of Paraguay 1814–1840, whose strong authoritarianism
earned him the name El Supremo. His house is now a museum – located only 100 or so meters from the church.
an enormous dog or jaguar that inhabited the region.
with the Guaraní population.
In 1600, Fray Alonso de Buenaventura
and his followers built an imposing church that still stands nowadays and is one of the most beautiful examples of Franciscan construction in Paraguay.
, production of clothes and sports gear.
The cavern of Saint Thomas
is the place of a legend. This legend narrates that in the area, lived a priest, Pa’i Sumé, who is said left marks in his trip through the region. The road that leads to the cavern was venerated by the natives of the area, who told stories of a blond man that came much before the Spanish arrived and showed them how to cultivate the corn.
The Franciscan settled in Yaguarón and in the altar of the church they built can be appreciated the Hispanic-Guaraní style of the carvings the natives made by hand.
From the Gamarra Oratory, on top of the Yaguarón Hill, the cities Pirayú
, Itá
, Paraguarí
and Carapeguá
can be well appreciated.
The festivity of Saint Roque
on August 16 is celebrated in a chapel built in his honor. Because it is said that this saint is the protector of dogs, in the celebration, people make very particular offerings with the shape of dogs.
In the top of the Yaguarón Hill there is an Oratory, from where the beautiful landscape can be appreciated. The legend tells that in this hill are the footprints of Saint Thomas.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, located at the base of Yaguarón Hill in the Yaguarón District
Yaguarón District
Yaguarón is a district in the department of Paraguarí, Paraguay. The district seat is the town of Yaguarón. The name of the district and the town means "big dog" in Guaraní language....
of Paraguarí Department
Paraguarí Department
Paraguarí is a departamento in Paraguay. At the 2002 census it had a population of 221,932. The capital is the city of Paraguarí.- History :...
, 48 kilometres (29.8 mi) from the capital Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.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...
. The town began as a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
reservation for the Guaraní Indians.
It contains a famous and visually stunning church, the building of which, led by Fray Alonso de Buenaventura, started in 1640 and took 60 years to complete.
Yaguarón is also notable as the birthplace of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
, dictator of Paraguay 1814–1840, whose strong authoritarianism
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
earned him the name El Supremo. His house is now a museum – located only 100 or so meters from the church.
Toponymy
In the beginning the city was called Jaguarú, which means in Guaraní mythologyGuaraní mythology
The Guaraní people live in south-central part of South America, especially in Paraguay and parts of the surrounding areas of Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia.-Overview:There exist no written records of the ancient myths and legends associated with the Guaraní people...
an enormous dog or jaguar that inhabited the region.
History
Located in the foot of a hill with the same name, the city started as a Franciscan MissionFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
with the Guaraní population.
In 1600, Fray Alonso de Buenaventura
Alonso de San Buenaventura
Alonso de San Buenaventura was a SpanishFranciscan friar and missionary evangelist. He entered the Franciscan order at the convent of Our Lady of Loreto in Espartinas, Seville. After being ordained priest, he enlisted a group of Franciscans for missionary work in Paraguay...
and his followers built an imposing church that still stands nowadays and is one of the most beautiful examples of Franciscan construction in Paraguay.
Climate
The average temperature is 21 °C (69.8 °F), in summer reaches 39 °C (102.2 °F) and in winter drops to 2 °C (35.6 °F).Demographics
It has a total of 27.250 inhabitants, 13.965 men and 13.286 women, according to information provided by the Statistics, Polls and Census General Direction.Economy
The economical activities of its population are the agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, production of clothes and sports gear.
Transportation
Located 48 kilometers from Asunción, capital of the country, the access to the city is through Route No. 1 “Mcal. Francisco Solano López”.Tourism
The Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Museum is located just a block away from the church. In there are a variety of belongings of Francia and other objects from the 19th century.The cavern of Saint Thomas
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
is the place of a legend. This legend narrates that in the area, lived a priest, Pa’i Sumé, who is said left marks in his trip through the region. The road that leads to the cavern was venerated by the natives of the area, who told stories of a blond man that came much before the Spanish arrived and showed them how to cultivate the corn.
The Franciscan settled in Yaguarón and in the altar of the church they built can be appreciated the Hispanic-Guaraní style of the carvings the natives made by hand.
From the Gamarra Oratory, on top of the Yaguarón Hill, the cities Pirayú
Pirayú
Pirayú is a town in the Paraguarí department of Paraguay.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
, Itá
Itá, Paraguay
Itá is a city located along the 35th kilometer of Ruta 1 in the central department of Paraguay. Here, one of the most beautiful handicrafts in the country is made: ceramic pottery and crocheted hammocks, some of whose admirable artists have been recognized with important international awards.Itá...
, Paraguarí
Paraguarí
Paraguarí is a city, distrito and capital of Paraguarí Department in Paraguay, located 66 km from the country’s capital, Asunción. At the 2002 census it had a population of 22,154.- Toponymy :...
and Carapeguá
Carapegua
Carapeguá is a city and distrito of the Paraguarí Department, Paraguay, located 84 km from Asunción.Settled by the Caañabé river and over the Route 1 "Mariscal Francisco Solano López", the Carapeguá district is located near the legendary Ypoá lake.Its also known as the "Caañabé's...
can be well appreciated.
The festivity of Saint Roque
Roque González de Santa Cruz
Father Roque González de Santa Cruz S.J. was born in Asunción, Paraguay on 17 November 1576. He was the son of Don Bartolomé González de Villaverde and Doña María de Santa Cruz who were Spanish nobles. Roque González spoke Guaraní fluently from an early age....
on August 16 is celebrated in a chapel built in his honor. Because it is said that this saint is the protector of dogs, in the celebration, people make very particular offerings with the shape of dogs.
Musical tradition
Yaguarón keeps one of the oldest musical traditions of Paraguay: The “Petete Peteke” Para’i Band, from Guayaibity Town, which uses the original musical instruments of the natives.In the top of the Yaguarón Hill there is an Oratory, from where the beautiful landscape can be appreciated. The legend tells that in this hill are the footprints of Saint Thomas.
Sources
- World Gazeteer: Paraguay – World-Gazetteer.com
- Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
- Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL