Asunción

Asunción was built on 7 hills above the eastern bank of the Río Paraguay. Most of the city's tourist sights are situated in the area between the riverfront, Avenida Colón to the west, calles Haedo and Luis A Herrera in the south, and Estados Unidos to the east.

Little of the colonial heritage remains and Asunción is a hotchpotch of modern buildings and squatter settlements along the riverfront and the railway.

Points of interest

The Old Town features numerous historic buildings and mansions.
On the coast of Asunción Bay are 2 cannons that were used during the War of the Triple Alliance, which was fought from 1864 to 1870, between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, the Empire of Brazil and Uruguay.
The Palacio de los López is also known as the Palacio de Gobierno. It was built in the 19th century and has been off limits for a long period during the rule of El Supremo. Everyone approaching it, or even taking photographs could expect to be shot at. The building's main façade features galleries overlooking Asunción Bay. The palace is the headquarters of Paraguay's Executive Branch and it has a viewpoint that offers excellent views over Asunción and the bay.
Not far from the palace is one of Asunción's few remaining colonial buildings, the Casa Viola, which was built between 1750 and 1758. It houses a nice museum and it is included in the so-called Manzana de la Rivera.
The Antequera Staircase was erected to commemorate the Communards, who were members and supporters of the short-lived 1871 Paris Commune formed in the wake of the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. The staircase was built in 1928, on the slopes of the hill, starting from Antequera Street. There is a monument with a sculpture called Victory at its top.
Asunción Metropolitan Cathedral was inaugurated in 1845. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Its main altar is covered in silver and it includes the Metropolitan Cathedral Treasure Museum.
The Bicentennial Astronomical Center includes a multimedia room with a giant screen where scientific films are shown, a planetarium and an astronomy library, where visitors can conduct researches related to astronomy.
Boat Trips to the town of Nueva Asunción are available from the Port and Beach Montevideo. The views from Nueva Asunción over Asunción are truly stunning.
The Casa de la Independencia was built in 1772, making it Asunción's oldest building. It was used for secret meetings that led to the Independence Revolution of 14 and 15 May 1811. The building houses the Casa de la Independencia Museum.
The Castelvi House dates from 1804. It was beautifully restored in 1995 and it is home to the City Memory Museum. The Castelvi House is one of the 9 buildings of the Manzana de la Rivera.
The building of the Central Post Office was constructed in the late 19th century. It has been operating as the Central Post Office 1913 and nowadays also houses the Postal Historical Museum.
The Centro Cultural de la República (Cultural Center of the Republic) is housed in the building of the Cabildo (Town Council). It opened in 2004 and it is focused on Paraguay's national history.
The Church of the Holy Trinity was constructed in 1854. It features a beautiful façade and classical paintings on its ceiling.
The Renaissance Church of the Incarnation was built at the location of a previous church, which was destroyed by fire. Construction started in 1893 and it is located at Loma Cabará. It is one of the largest temples in Asunción.
The Costanera de Asunción is a popular place for meeting friends, looking at sunsets and enjoying the city. The park is also good for cycling, roller-skating, jogging, etc.
Asunción's Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden) is one of the city's best parks and consists of more than 110 hectares (270 acres) of natural forest.
The nearby zoo is home to some 70 different species of wild animals including birds, mammals and reptiles. Most of them represent South American fauna.
The National Pantheon of the Heroes is dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, Patroness of Asunción and Marshal of its armies. Construction took place between 1863 and 1936. It became the Pantheon of Heroes after the remains of Paraguayan heroes were laid to rest there.
The Paseo de la Guaranía features a water organ that plays Guaranía melodies.
The Plaza Eligio Ayala is located in front of the National Congress.
The Teatro Municipal Ignacio A. Pane was originally built to be Paraguay's National Theater. It was inaugurated in 1889 and in 1939 it became the Municipal Theater. It was beautifully restored between 1997 and 2006.

Museums

Most museums in and around Asunción are quite small.

The Cabildo Museum is housed in a 19th-century Neoclassical style building that was once home to the country's Legislative Branch. The museum was founded in 2004.
The Carlos Antonio López Railway Station and its railway were inaugurated in 1861. It was one of the first passanger railways in South America. Nowadays it is a museum, where artefacts from Paraguay's railway history can be seen, including the original 'Sapukái' locomotive.
The Casa de la Independencia Museum houses a collection of artefacts that once belonged to the heroes of the Independence of Paraguay. It features a mural that represents the most prominent buildings and places of colonial Asunción. It is housed in the Casa de la Independencia, which was built in 1772.
The Casa de Cultura Paraguaya (House of Paraguayan Culture) houses items and documents of Military History from the Colonial era, the Independent era, the time of the Paraguayan War and the time of the Chaco War.
City Memory Museum is housed in the Castelvi House.
The Doctor Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum houses archaeological and ethnographic artefacts from indigenous peoples in Paraguay. It also has a library specialized in anthropology, history and natural sciences.
The General Bernardino Caballero National Historical Museum is housed in the former residence of Bernardino Caballero. You can see his furniture and personal objects there.
The Institute of History and Military Museum houses a collection of historic items of military importance. Temporary exhibitions on important historical events can also be seen there.
The Juan Sinforiano Bogarín Museum was named after the priest and first archbishop of Paraguay, who also founded the museum. The building used to be a prison during colonial times. The museum features a collection of Jesuit and Franciscan carvings.
The Manzana de la Rivera consists of a collection of 9 houses that were built at different times, the oldest of which is the forementioned 18th-century Casa Viola. The 1804 Castelvi House also belongs to the collection.
The Mariscal José Félix Estigarribia Museum has a collection of uniforms, weapons, boots, decorations and other military items.
The Metropolitan Cathedral Treasure Museum is housed in the Asunción Metropolitan Cathedral. The collection includes sacred art, priestly attire, images, altarpieces, sacred vessels, niches and candelabras.
The Museo del Barro is the best place to look for modern art in Asunción.
The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Asunción (National Museum of Fine Arts of Asunción) was founded in 1909 and houses a collection of more than 650 art works, including marble sculptures, wood carvings, bronze and plaster busts. It also holds a collection of important documents related to the history of Paraguay. It is located on Mcal. Estigarribia and Iturbe streets.
Relatives of the victims of Alfredo Stroessner's government started looking for their loved ones after the end of the dictatorship. Data, photographs, names and surnames were collected and a book was published about it. The Museo de Memórias (Museum of Memories 'Dictatorship and Human Rights') houses a collection that is based on the findings and the book.
The Museum of Sacred Arthouses a collection of pieces of sculpture and goldsmithing of Guaraní Baroque sacred art.
The Numismatic Museum of the Central Bank has a collection of historical Paraguayan numismatic (coins, tokens, paper money, medals, etc.) objects, including Paraguay's first national coins, which dates from 1845. It also exhibits jewels from the times of the War of the Triple Alliance.
The Paraguayan Touring and Automobile Club Museum exhibits a variety of historic automobiles and related items. One of the museum's centerpieces is the country's oldest car.
The Paraguayan Union of Veterans of the Chaco War exhibits trophies and photographs of the Chaco War.
The Postal Historical Museum is housed in the building of the Central Post Office. The museum was created by the Postal and Telegraph Directorate and features a collection of old stamps.
The Visual Arts Center is also known as the Clay Museum. Its collection includes more than 4,000 items of popular art, indigenous art and contemporary art. The artefacts include pieces of pre-Columbian ceramic and wood carvings, fabrics, lace, ceramics and goldsmithing objects from the 17th century and onward.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Asunción, many of which are located in the center of town, towards the riverfront, as well as in the neighborhoods east of the center.

There are also several cultural centers in town, as well as countless music bars. The best places for shopping are calles Colón, Pettirossi, Palma and Estrella, which are all lined with shops and boutiques.

In 1537, a fort was built and a town developed around it, which would later become Asunción, making it one of the oldest cities in South America. It sits on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, in the southwest of Paraguay and not far from the border with Argentina.

	Temperature	Precipitation
January	28.3°C (82.9°F)	14 cm (5.51 in)
April	23.6°C (74.5°F)	13.2 cm (5.2 in)
July	17.5°C (63.5°F)	5.6 cm (2.2 in)
October	23.3°C (73.9°F)	14 cm (5.51 in)

Asunción

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