Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0Eusebio Ayala (Barrero Grande)
The republic of chipá: some fifty chipa bakeries and the memory of the child soldiers of Acosta Ñu.
What it is
A must-stop on the PY02: in Eusebio Ayala, the old Barrero Grande, more than fifty chiperías bake chipá barrero, the local style of Paraguay's cheesy cassava bread, and travelers buy it by the dozen for the road. Behind the aroma lies a hard history: a kilometer and a half from the main square, on the Itakyty ridge, stands the monument to the child martyrs of Acosta Ñu, and some 15 km north is Cerro de la Gloria, with its monument on the summit. The Chipá Literario cultural center, opened in 2014, stocks books by Paraguayan authors and arranges visits to the historic sites.
What to see and do
- A chipa-bakery crawl in town and along the highway
- The Sesquicentennial Monument to the Battle of Acosta Ñu
- Cerro de la Gloria, a national monument atop a hill
- The Chipá Literario cultural center
- Holy Week chipa apo at the bakeries
Did you know…?
Paraguay's Children's Day, August 16, honors the child combatants of Acosta Ñu.
The National Chipá Festival began some 40 years ago; 2026 saw the 16th edition of its new era, which awards music groups the 'Chipá Argolla de Oro' (Golden Chipa Ring).
The 2019 monument, by Sebastián Guggiari, shows a flag pierced by spears, with silhouettes of soldiers and children.
History
Founded in 1770 by Governor Carlos Morphi as Barrero Grande, it later took the name of President Eusebio Ayala, who was born here. On August 16, 1869, on the fields of Acosta Ñu, a Paraguayan army made up largely of children, old men and wounded soldiers faced some 20,000 Allied troops; in their memory, August 16 is Children's Day in Paraguay. The sesquicentennial monument was unveiled in 2019.
Tips
- August packs it all in: the National Chipá Festival, Mitã Rape (a theatrical reenactment of the battle, on the 15th) and on the 16th, San Roque, with a parade and picnic.
- The battlefield is partly private land: visit with a local guide.
- Chipá is best straight out of the oven: stop by early.
Chipa bakeries open early every day.
Best time: Year-round as a road stop. In August, the National Chipá Festival (August 9 in 2026), Mitã Rape and August 16 (San Roque and Acosta Ñu); in Holy Week, chipa apo.
What to try
- Freshly baked chipá barrero and chipa almidón (made with cassava starch)
- Cocido (toasted yerba mate tea with milk) with chipá, the classic roadside breakfast
Activities
Festivals and events here
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 9 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.