15 de agosto: Fundación de Asunción y fiesta de la Virgen de la Asunción

Attraction

The Mother of Cities' birthday coincides with the feast of its patron saint: a national holiday with Mass and cultural events.

1 dayDuration

₲₲₲Budget or free

DirectionsSee on map

What it is

Every August 15, Asunción celebrates two things at once: the day it was founded and the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, which gave the city its name and is its patron. It's a public holiday across the country. The Metropolitan Cathedral is the focus of the religious celebrations, and the City usually schedules cultural activities in the historic center. It falls in the middle of the mild winter, with cool, sunny days perfect for walking the old town — sometimes with the first lapachos in bloom.

What to see and do

Mass in honor of the patron saint at the Metropolitan Cathedral
Cultural activities and guided tours in the historic center (depending on the annual program)
A walk through the founding sites: the bay, the Cabildo and the Cathedral

Did you know…?

The city's full name comes from the Catholic calendar: the fort was founded on the Feast of the Assumption.

Every five years, August 15 is also the day the new President of the Republic takes office.

The expeditions that founded Santa Fe (1573), Buenos Aires (1580) and Corrientes (1588), among dozens of settlements, all set out from Asunción.

History

Juan de Salazar de Espinosa built a fortified house beside the bay on August 15, 1537, the Feast of the Assumption, hence the name: Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción. On September 16, 1541, Domingo Martínez de Irala established the town council (cabildo), and the fort formally became a city.

Tips

Since it's a national holiday, some offices, shops and museums close or change their hours: check ahead.
The official program is published a few days beforehand on the City of Asunción's channels.
In years when a new president is sworn in (next in 2028), streets downtown are closed to traffic.

August 15, national holiday; times according to the annual program (check before you go).

Best time: August 15 every year (winter, mild weather).

What to try

Chipa and sopa paraguaya, a must at any celebration

Activities

Festivals Photography Faith & pilgrimage History & missions Living culture

Festivals and events here

Apr

International Jazz Day in Asunción

Jazz concerts at cultural centers and stages around the capital to celebrate the genre’s world day.

MusicAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)May→ Jun

Asunción International Book Fair (FIL)

Ten days of books, authors and language: the country’s great literary festival, with free entry and a guest country.

CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)Featured May

Independence Days (May 14 and 15)

Two public holidays for the 1811 independence: flags, ceremonies, sopa paraguaya and chipa guasu all over the country.

CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)Aug

August 1: National Carrulim Day

On the first day of August people drink carrulim—cane liquor, rue and lemon—to ward off the ills of the most dreaded month.

TraditionAsunción y todo el país, Varios Aug

August 15: Founding of Asunción and Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption

The birthday of the Mother of Cities coincides with the feast of its patron saint: Mass at the Cathedral, a public holiday and cultural events.

ReligiousAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)Featured