On a hill overlooking the bay, this neighborhood of narrow lanes and stairways is best explored on foot, among houses painted in vivid colors, potted plants and murals that tell its own story: the washerwomen, the fishermen, the tereré stand, the chipa seller, the patron saint's festival. Residents welcome visitors with guided tours on weekends and serve traditional food in their homes. At the top, the San Jerónimo oratory marks the center of community life. This is Asunción at its most down-to-earth and authentic, fifteen minutes from the Palace.

Settlement dates back to the early 19th century, between the Jaén and Jardín streams, the Paraguay River and the old Mangrullo cemetery, with families drawn by the nearby port and the Hospital de Clínicas. On April 1, 2013, it was declared the city's first tourist neighborhood, and today it is protected as historic, urban and cultural heritage by municipal ordinance and as a heritage asset by the Ministry of Education and Science.