Capital of the Misiones department and a cattle-ranching town on Route PY01, San Juan Bautista is a stop to pay homage to Agustín Pío Barrios, known as Mangoré, one of the great classical guitar composers of the 20th century. A statue of him about 3 meters tall welcomes travelers, and the Barrios family's former home now serves as a museum. The town has leafy plazas, a cathedral and the Monseñor Rojas theater. On 24 June, its patron saint's festival combines a procession, rodeo riding, bronco breaking and the traditional games of San Juan.

Established as a municipality on 26 January 1893 and departmental capital since 1945, it is today the administrative, farming and ranching center of Misiones. Agustín Pío Barrios was born here, according to the most widely accepted account, on 5 May 1885, and died in San Salvador, El Salvador, on 7 August 1944. He composed works such as 'La Catedral', 'Julia Florida' and 'Las abejas', and was one of the first classical guitarists to make recordings.