gomezminck · CC BY-SA 3.0Templo de San Buenaventura de Yaguarón
A jewel of Guaraní Baroque: 18th-century altarpieces and a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status.
What it is
From outside it looks like a large colonial barn with wooden columns and verandas; inside it bursts with color: altarpieces, pulpit and confessional carved and painted under the direction of Portuguese master José de Souza Cavadas alongside Guaraní artisans. It's one of the best-preserved Franciscan churches in the country and a centerpiece of the Circuito de Oro. A few blocks away, the Dr. Francia Museum occupies a 1770–1780 mansion where the dictator's father lived, and Cerro Yaguarón, with a free-access lookout, towers over the town.
What to see and do
- The 18th-century carved main altarpiece and pulpit
- Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Historical Museum
- The Cerro Yaguarón lookout
- Peteke Róga Museum, in the Guayaibity community
- Feast of San Buenaventura (July 15), with a procession, the Peteke Peteke band and bullfights
Did you know…?
In 2026 a colony of Nyctinomops bats was recorded in the church, natural allies against mosquitoes and moths.
The Peteke Peteke band has been playing handmade instruments for more than 300 years; in 2026 it opened its own museum, Peteke Róga.
On Cerro Yaguarón, tradition points to the 'footprints of St. Thomas': stepping on them is said to bring good luck.
History
Yaguarón began as a Franciscan mission around 1587, founded by friars Luis de Bolaños and Alonso de San Buenaventura. The current church was built between 1755 and 1772. It was declared historic and cultural heritage by Law 2206 of 2003, has been on Paraguay's UNESCO Tentative List since April 6, 2022, and a full restoration is scheduled to run until March 2028.
Tips
- The church stays open for worship during the restoration; some areas may have scaffolding.
- Don't use flash: the 18th-century painted wood is fragile.
- It's one hour from Asunción: the perfect first stop on the Circuito de Oro via the PY01.
Church open during worship hours. Dr. Francia Museum (a museum since 1968): free admission according to Wikipedia; check hours before you go.
Best time: Year-round, best in the morning. First half of July: a novena with cultural evenings and, on the 15th, the patron-saint feast of San Buenaventura with a procession and bullfights.
Activities
Festivals and events here
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 9 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.