Chipaguasustudios · CC0Santuario Ñandejára Guasu de Piribebuy
Piribebuy's church from 1753, witness to the 1868 wartime capital and the battle of 12 August 1869.
What it is
The Ñandejára Guasu parish shrine, completed in 1753, is central to the identity of Piribebuy, the historic Cordillera town about 73 km from Asunción. Next to the church there is a monument to Sergeant Major Hilario Amarilla, as shown in the Wikimedia Commons photo archive. Piribebuy was the "Third Capital of the Republic" during the War of the Triple Alliance: on 8 December 1868 Marshal López moved the capital there, along with the government archives and his family. The town keeps that memory in the Comandante Pedro Pablo Caballero history museum, already covered in this guide.
What to see and do
- The 1753 church
- The monument next to the church
- The history museum, a few blocks away
Did you know…?
8 December 1868 was the day Marshal López moved the capital to Piribebuy.
Piribebuy is also the home of the 60-stripe poncho para'i.
History
On 12 August 1869, about 20,000 allies attacked around 1,600 defenders and some 100 women, remembered as the Heroines of Piribebuy. The fight lasted five hours and caused heavy casualties; the National Archive of the Republic, which was kept there, was taken into the street and a large part of its historic documents was burnt.
Tips
- The theatrical re-enactment of the battle in the first half of August is a good time to visit.
- Respect mass times.
Check opening hours before you go. Hours depend on mass times.
Best time: First half of August, for the battle anniversary.
Activities
Festivals and events here
National Festival of the 60-Stripe Poncho Para’i
Music, crafts and local pride centered on the sixty-stripe poncho, handwoven in Piribebuy.
FestivalPiribebuy, Cordillera3FebSan Blas · Piribebuy
Mass, a procession and festivals with Paraguayan and international artists in this heroic city of the War of the Triple Alliance.
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.