Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0Luque
Capital of gold and silver filigree and birthplace of guitar and harp makers, minutes from the airport.
What it is
Luque is Paraguay's front door (Silvio Pettirossi Airport is here) and also a town of fine crafts. Its silversmiths work in filigree, threads of gold and silver shaped like lace, and it's known as the city of music for its makers of guitars and Paraguayan harps. Downtown, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary sets the rhythm of the patron-saint festival in October. The CONMEBOL Museum and Ñu Guasu park are just minutes away.
What to see and do
- Watch silversmiths at work in the Luque Jewelers' Association workshop
- Buy gold and silver filigree jewelry
- The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary
- The CONMEBOL Museum and Ñu Guasu park, just minutes away
Did you know…?
Filigree arrived with Spanish colonization; in 2024 there were between 200 and 300 silversmiths still practicing it in the country, compared with around 1,500 in earlier decades.
It was Paraguay's capital for almost ten months in 1868, in the thick of the war.
It is home to CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation.
History
Its official origins date to 1635, when Governor Martín de Ledesma Valderrama granted land to Captain Miguel Antón de Luque. During the War of the Triple Alliance it served as the capital of the Republic from February 22 to December 7, 1868. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary was consecrated on July 30, 1939. With 259,705 inhabitants (2022 census), it is the most populous city in the Central department.
Tips
- Visits to the Jewelers' Association workshop (calle Dr. Prieto) are free, last 30 min to 1 h 30, and are booked by phone or WhatsApp.
- Reference prices at the cooperative workshop: filigree pieces from ₲100,000 to ₲350,000 (check before you go).
- Being so close to the airport, it's a handy base for your first or last night in the country.
Best time: Year-round; October 7 for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Activities
Where to stay
Festivals and events here
Asunciónico
Paraguay’s mega music festival: three days of rock, pop and electronic music with international stars and Paraguayan bands.
MusicLuque (Parque Olímpico, Gran Asunción), CentralFeaturedOctNihon Matsuri Japanese Festival
Taiko, Japanese food and Nikkei culture at the biggest festival of Paraguay’s Japanese community.
Heritage communitiesLuque (Parque Olímpico), CentralFeatured7OctVirgen del Rosario · Luque
The folk procession «Bandera jere», an aerial procession, a folk Mass and karu guasu (a big communal feast) in the sanctuary gardens.
Patron saintLuque, CentralFeaturedNearby
Luque · Central
Museo del Fútbol Sudamericano (Museo CONMEBOL)
The home of South American football: trophies, championship jerseys and interactive exhibits, with free entry.
Asunción · Asunción (Distrito Capital)
Parque Guasu Metropolitano
A great 125-hectare green lung on the edge of the city, next to Parque Ñu Guasu.
Luque · Central
Parque Ñu Guasu
The big green lung between Asunción and the airport, with a 5 km loop for walking and running.
Mariano Roque Alonso · Central
Expo Mariano Roque Alonso (predio de la Asociación Rural del Paraguay)
Every July, the country's biggest fair: show cattle, Paraguayan industry, food and entertainment.
Asunción · Asunción (Distrito Capital)
Centro de Artes Visuales / Museo del Barro
The country's finest museum: Indigenous, folk and contemporary Paraguayan art under one roof.
Fernando de la Mora · Central
Kamba Kua (comunidad afroparaguaya)
Descendants of Artigas's lancers have kept the drums and the feast of San Baltasar alive since 1820.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 5 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.