It offers superb views and as it is located on top of a hill. The are three navels and a cupola with paintings reflecting the Passion of Christ. Open from 8-11am and 4-6pm. It is often used for performances and concerts.
The Port and La Recova: (Colon between Benjamin Constant and Presidente Franco) A good place for shopping traditional handicrafts and textiles such as ao'poi, nanduti, hammocs, etc.
River trips from Asuncion can be a popular excursion for those a little tired of walking around the city. On Sundays, the Cunatai offers a trip from Club Deportivo Puerto Sajonia along the Asuncion's Bay and Paraguay River. Trip starts at 5pm. It is a really nice itinerary and the sunsets' views are superb. Phone: (021) 420375.
Trips to Chaco'i on the opposite bank of the Paraguay River are also possible. It is worth mentioning that this area is a poorer part of Asuncion and to take extra diligence especially if you are visiting alone or after dark. If you do plan on staying later in the day be sure to bring mosquitoes repellents. From this little town you can enjoy nice views over Asuncion and the Paraguay River. To get there: Playa Montevideo (Asuncion) Montevideo and Playa in Asuncion city centre. Price: $0.60 one way. Boats depart every 30 minutesr.
For a five star option, try Crucero Paraguay, which departs Fridays at 7PM and comming back on Sundays at 5PM. The trip is upstream to the Chaco Region with activities and in land tours. Summer time schedules: Feb 23rd and March 23rd.
Jose Manuel Gomez - 20th June 2007
The Port and La Recova: (Colon between Benjamin Constant and Presidente Franco) A good place for shopping traditional handicrafts and textiles such as ao'poi, nanduti, hammocs, etc.
River trips from Asuncion can be a popular excursion for those a little tired of walking around the city. On Sundays, the Cunatai offers a trip from Club Deportivo Puerto Sajonia along the Asuncion's Bay and Paraguay River. Trip starts at 5pm. It is a really nice itinerary and the sunsets' views are superb. Phone: (021) 420375.
Trips to Chaco'i on the opposite bank of the Paraguay River are also possible. It is worth mentioning that this area is a poorer part of Asuncion and to take extra diligence especially if you are visiting alone or after dark. If you do plan on staying later in the day be sure to bring mosquitoes repellents. From this little town you can enjoy nice views over Asuncion and the Paraguay River. To get there: Playa Montevideo (Asuncion) Montevideo and Playa in Asuncion city centre. Price: $0.60 one way. Boats depart every 30 minutesr.
For a five star option, try Crucero Paraguay, which departs Fridays at 7PM and comming back on Sundays at 5PM. The trip is upstream to the Chaco Region with activities and in land tours. Summer time schedules: Feb 23rd and March 23rd.
Jose Manuel Gomez - 20th June 2007
Asuncion was recently named the world's cheapest capital city*, so for those on a budget it has at least one reason to visit, but what else does Paraguay's capital have to offer?
Walking is the best way to discover historical buildings and museums in the Asuncion city centre. So pick up a map and grab a big bottle of mineral water and start!
Itinerary:
The Government Palace (Mcal Lopez between Ayolas and O'leary) Neoclassical building by Alonso Taylor. Construction work began on the 1860s, but it was only finished after the Triple Alliance War. For best views, go to opposite Cafe Viola in the Manzana de la Rivera.
Walking is the best way to discover historical buildings and museums in the Asuncion city centre. So pick up a map and grab a big bottle of mineral water and start!
Itinerary:
The Government Palace (Mcal Lopez between Ayolas and O'leary) Neoclassical building by Alonso Taylor. Construction work began on the 1860s, but it was only finished after the Triple Alliance War. For best views, go to opposite Cafe Viola in the Manzana de la Rivera.
Paraguay | Asuncion City Guide
Also, go along to the Paraguay River shore, appreciate the back of the building and explore the Humaita Battleship converted into Naval Museum (free entrance).
Built in Genova, Italy (1930) the battleship helped the Paraguayans to keep the Bolivian air force on check during the Chaco War 1932-35. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 8-11.30AM and 2-6PM. Also Saturdays and Sundays from 8 til 6pm.
Manzana de la Rivera (129 Ayolas between Benjamin Constant and Mariscal Lopez) Historic quarter with several houses (9) dating back from the 19th century and 20th century. Casa Viola for instance, from 1750-1758 in the Spanish colonial style. Nowadays, it host the City's Memory Museum, with texts, maps, objects, paints and day to day objects which shows the urban lifestyle. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 8am til 9pm. Saturdays and Sundays 10am til 7pm. Casa Clari, later development bosts an Art Nouveau style and offers an Art Gallery and a cafe with superb views of opposite Government Palace (night lights). Casa Castelvi (from 1804) colonial style with original features such as doors, windows and floor. This house serves as an events' space and offers recreational activities for children. Casa Ballario contains an image resource centre with videos and photographs.
Built in Genova, Italy (1930) the battleship helped the Paraguayans to keep the Bolivian air force on check during the Chaco War 1932-35. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 8-11.30AM and 2-6PM. Also Saturdays and Sundays from 8 til 6pm.
Manzana de la Rivera (129 Ayolas between Benjamin Constant and Mariscal Lopez) Historic quarter with several houses (9) dating back from the 19th century and 20th century. Casa Viola for instance, from 1750-1758 in the Spanish colonial style. Nowadays, it host the City's Memory Museum, with texts, maps, objects, paints and day to day objects which shows the urban lifestyle. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 8am til 9pm. Saturdays and Sundays 10am til 7pm. Casa Clari, later development bosts an Art Nouveau style and offers an Art Gallery and a cafe with superb views of opposite Government Palace (night lights). Casa Castelvi (from 1804) colonial style with original features such as doors, windows and floor. This house serves as an events' space and offers recreational activities for children. Casa Ballario contains an image resource centre with videos and photographs.
* Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting's 2007 Cost of Living study
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You can also visit the new Parlament building just next to the Cabildo. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 7AM til 7PM. Saturdays and Sundays 10AM til 5PM.
Cathedral: (Independencia Nacional and Mariscal López) Completed in the 1650s, it features a central navel and two side ones. The altar is covered in silver, and it is consecrated to Our Lady of Asuncion.
Also worth a visit is the Museo Juan Sinforiano Bogarín (Comuneros and Yegros), a former prison from the Dr. Rodriguez de Francia period. Some good examples of Jesuit and Franciscan art on display. Entrance fee USD 0.40. Opening times: Monday-Saturdays from 8am til 11am.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes: (Mcal. Estigarribia and Iturbe) Paraguayan art collection and temporal exhibitions of international artists. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 7am til 7pm, and Saturdays 7 til 12am. Museo Etnografico Andres Barbero: (217 Av. Espana and Mompox) The Guaranis once florished all along Paraguay, Brazil, and northern Argentina. This museum, opened in 1929, hosts a collection of objects, ceramics, weapons, musical instruments and Multimedia about the life and remains of the Guarani people. Opening times: Monday-Friday from 8am to 5.30pm.
Cathedral: (Independencia Nacional and Mariscal López) Completed in the 1650s, it features a central navel and two side ones. The altar is covered in silver, and it is consecrated to Our Lady of Asuncion.
Also worth a visit is the Museo Juan Sinforiano Bogarín (Comuneros and Yegros), a former prison from the Dr. Rodriguez de Francia period. Some good examples of Jesuit and Franciscan art on display. Entrance fee USD 0.40. Opening times: Monday-Saturdays from 8am til 11am.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes: (Mcal. Estigarribia and Iturbe) Paraguayan art collection and temporal exhibitions of international artists. Opening times: Monday-Fridays 7am til 7pm, and Saturdays 7 til 12am. Museo Etnografico Andres Barbero: (217 Av. Espana and Mompox) The Guaranis once florished all along Paraguay, Brazil, and northern Argentina. This museum, opened in 1929, hosts a collection of objects, ceramics, weapons, musical instruments and Multimedia about the life and remains of the Guarani people. Opening times: Monday-Friday from 8am to 5.30pm.
Independence House (14 de Mayo and Presidente Franco) A 1772 building hosting a museum conmmemorating the Paraguayan Independence. Interesting paints, furniture and objects. It belonged to the Martinez Saenz family, and it was here where Paraguayan patriots plotted the National independence.
Panteon de los Heroes: (Palma and Chile) Also Oratory of Our Lady of Asuncion. Burial site for Paraguayan patriots. It resembles the Invalides in Paris. Free entrance.
Museo del Cabildo: Former Town House (Avda. República between Chile and Alberdi). Pascual Urdapilleta (1842) mixed a neoclassical style on the fachade with colonial style for the corridor and sides of the building.
Panteon de los Heroes: (Palma and Chile) Also Oratory of Our Lady of Asuncion. Burial site for Paraguayan patriots. It resembles the Invalides in Paris. Free entrance.
Museo del Cabildo: Former Town House (Avda. República between Chile and Alberdi). Pascual Urdapilleta (1842) mixed a neoclassical style on the fachade with colonial style for the corridor and sides of the building.
Estación Central de Ferrocarril: Tourist information centre (Eligio Ayala and México) Mixed of European and local architecture. In the opposite side of Plaza Uruguaya, you can wonder around traditional Paraguayan lapachos/Tajy and enjoy an explosion of colours in spring and summer time with pink, yellow or white blossoms. Go to Plaza Uruguaya also if you would like to try the terere, a traditional Paraguayan beverage to keep refreshed in the warm weather. It is like cold green tea drank from a glass with a straw/filter called bombilla. In Plaza Uruguaya you will find lots of stalls "renting" terere. Ask for a mix of herbs for flavour. It can be mint ~(menta), cedron, etc.
Iglesia de la Encarnacion: (Haedo and 14 de Mayo) One of the nicest church in Asuncion. The original church was rebuilt after a fire in 1889 by Giovanni Colombo, an Italian immigrant who offered his services free of charge under conditions that he was the best materials at his disposal.
Iglesia de la Encarnacion: (Haedo and 14 de Mayo) One of the nicest church in Asuncion. The original church was rebuilt after a fire in 1889 by Giovanni Colombo, an Italian immigrant who offered his services free of charge under conditions that he was the best materials at his disposal.