Santa Rosa, Paraguay

Santa Rosa de Lima
City & District
Santa Rosa de Lima image in the Jesuit Church.
Flag
Santa Rosa de Lima
Coordinates: 26°52′00″S 56°51′00″W / 26.86667°S 56.85000°W / -26.86667; -56.85000
Country	Paraguay
Department	Misiones
Foundation	1698 by Father Ranzonier
Government
• Intendente Municipal	Ruben Alfonso Jacquet Godoy
Area
• Total	1.010 km2 (0.390 sq mi)
Elevation	142 m (466 ft)
Population  (2008)
• Total	20,306
• Density	17.4/km2 (45/sq mi)
Time zone	-4 GMT
Postal code	4890
Area code	(595) (858)

Santa Rosa (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsanta ˈrosa]) is a city and district located in the Misiones department in Paraguay. It is one of the most important cities of Jesuit influence.

Geography

Santa Rosa stands on a hill located 257 kilometres (160 mi) south of Asunción on Route I "Mariscal Francisco Solano Lopez".

Weather

In summer, the highest temperature reaches 39 °C (102 °F), the lowest in winter usually runs about 0 °C (32 °F). The annual average is 21 °C (70 °F).

Demography

Santa Rosa has a population of 20,306 inhabitants, of whom 10,582 are men and 9,723 are women, according to projections by the General Directorate of Statistics, Census and Surveys.

History

The city was founded in 1698 by Jesuit Priest Ranzonier, and it was settled by families coming from the city of Santa Maria de Fe. Today, one of the most important Jesuit Reductions of Paraguay is a tourist attraction there.

The original church was burned in 1883 and only the original bell was preserved. To this day the bell is still in use, as part of the newer temple built on the site.

Economy

Santa Rosa is an agricultural area, with large cattle ranches.

Tourism

Sightseeing and historic Santa Rosa:

• Our Lady of Loreto Chapel: Built in times of missions, retains important features of the colonial era.
• Church of Santa Rosa de Lima, the first saint of the Americas, ornamentation and decoration recreate the Jesuit style.
• The Santa Rosa Jesuit Museum and the Museum of Loreto Chapel.
• At the side of the Central Square of the Bell Tower stands 20 metres (66 ft) high, built in red stone, one of the most important buildings of the Jesuit times.
• The House of Indians is a sample of past Jesuits and preserves the integrity with some old houses converted into shops. Some are observed colonial buildings.
• At the center of the Plaza Mariscal Estigarribia is a source with historical monuments, surrounded by figures carved in stone, highlights the particular figure of Kurupí, character of mythology, created by the artist Koki Ruiz.
• A large block of stone oscillating, at the side of the Hill, at the height of the Company on May 3, is a natural monument, "Itá Balanze."
• The Pombero Pyporé, a stone miraculously held vertically, where crisp, you can see a footprint said to be "Pombero".
• The stream Sangurí is very busy in the summer.

References

• Illustrated Geography of Paraguay, SRL Distributed Arami, 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
• Geography of Paraguay, First Edition 1999, Publisher Hispanic Paraguay SRL

External links

• National Secretary of Tourism
• ABC Digital "This is Our Country" Mission (VIII Department)