The “reducciones” were Indian villlages created by the Spanish missionaries during the colonization .
One of the objectives of the Spanish conquering and colonizing in America was the Evangelization of the numerous indigenous people. With great effort and sacrifice with the aim of Evangelization, the priests of the Jesus Company founded 30 towns; 7 in Brazil, 8 in Paraguay and 15 in Argentina, out which 11 were in the territory of the Province of Misiones, Argentina. At present, 6 runs in the antique reductions make up the international circuit of the Missions, constituting the new destiny and one of the greatest tourist attractions of the region. An excellent proposal for an incredible trip to the roots of America, to enter into direct contact with en experience which still beats alive in the stones of the ruins and in the landscape of the Jesuit groupings.
1) RUINS OF SAN IGNACIO:
The Ruins of San Ignacio Miní's Mission are located in San Ignacio's downtown, at a distance of 60 Km. from the City of Posadas (Province of Misiones’ Capital ) , trough the 12 National Route .
This Jesuit Mission was founded in the year 1.610 in the Guayrá by the Priests José Cataldino and Simón Maceta, the San Ignacio Miní's settlement was later transfered to Paranaimá in 1655, as a consequence of the invasions of the mamelucos; in May of 1695 it was again transferred to the current place. It was named San Ignacio Miní to distinguish it of that of San Ignacio Guazú founded previously.
At the present time these ruins stay in better conservation state due to important restoration works that were carried out in them.
The urban layout of this mission is similar to that of the other Jesuit reducciones, having a central square, the Church, the father Jesuit's house, the cemetery, the housings, the town council and the chapel.
This distribution you can still be appreciated today in the remains of thick walls of red stone bricks, material used for their construction.
At the time of its height this Mission ended up counting with more than 3300 inhabitants and its close relationship with the Paraná river made it possible to maintain a constant exchange with the other reductions.
The Jesuit Ruins of San Ignacio Miní's Mission were declared World Patrimony of the Humanity by the UNESCO in the year 1984. Completing the group of the ruins and as a support the tourist can find the center of interpretation of the Guarani Jesuit culture. Also and in the location of the central square of the Ruins can be appreciated a light and sound show performing a didactic story of the experience of life in the missions from their beginnings until the expulsion in 1768.
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2)- RUINS OF LORETO:
The reduction of Nuestra Señora de Loreto was founded in 1610 in the area of the Guayrá by fathers Jose Cataldino and Simon Masceta. As a consequence of the bandeirantes attack, its population, conducted by Father Antonio Ruiz de Montoya was moved in the year 1631, to the area of the Yabebirí Stream, together with that of San Ignacio Miní. The importance of Our Lady of Loreto was possibly the location of the first American printing press in which numerous books were written, many of them in the Guarani language, and also of an important library. It was important for the production diversity (canvas, printing press, pottery, cattle breeding and especially, yerba mate). Towards 1733 it reached a population of more than 6000 inhabitants. In the Jesuit layout, the church remains. There the relics of Father Antonio Ruiz de Montoya are buried. Another significant element are the Chapel with a ceremonial square and a procession way.
The Ruins of the Mission of Nuestra Señora de Loreto are located in the town of Loreto two kilometers from the 12 national road and aprox. 50 km. from the city of Posadas (Misiones capital).
After the expulsion of the Jesuits several lootings and fires took place producing the migration of their inhabitants and the advance of the forest , remaining little testimony of this reduction at the present time. It was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO in the year 1984
3)- RUINS OF SANTA ANA:
The Ruins of the Reduccion of Santa Ana are located in the town of Santa Ana at 700 mts. of the 12 National Road and 40 Km. away from the city of Posadas. Its first foundation dates as back as the year 1633 in the present Brazilian territory. Invaded by the bandeirantes, it was displaced until in the year 1639, it was located near its present place; in the year 1660 its inhabitants moved to their final enclave. lt is one of the reductions which preserves the best and most voluminous architectonical remains. The urban lay out is also outstanding, because it adapts to the irregularities of the terrain. lt has been declared provincial monument (1969), national monument (1983) and World Heritage Site (1984).
In the Tapé mountain , on the head of the Yacuy, in the current territory of Río Grande do Sul (Brazil) it was founded in 1633 the first reduccion of Santa Ana. As a consequence of the devastating action of the bandeirantes, in 1637 , 2.000 Guarani aborigines of the primitive reduccion were forced to emigrate, together with the religious Romero and Agustín Contreras. After some years of tempory establishment in the High Paraná , their residents settled down definitively in the current location, in 1660.
In spite of the advance of the forest, it can appreciated the central square, the Church, the housings, the shops and the cemetery, which was later used by the first residents of the town of Santa Ana.
It can also be observed what was the productive structure of this reduccion , their watery installations, lots, orchard and system of staggered watering.
The ruins were declared World Patrimony by the UNESCO in the year 1984.
4)- RUINS OF SANTA MARÍA:
The Ruins of the Mission of Santa María La Mayor are located in Colonia Santa María, district of Concepción. You reach them through the 2 Provincial Route , from San Javier going by Itacaruaré or from Concepción de la Sierra. This is the only Jesuit reduction of the Western coast of the Uruguay River keeping architectural remains. Santa Maria la Mayor shows even today massive walls and excellent technical resolution. In the periphery, there are still relics belonging to the chapels, breakwaters, ditches and pathways. It was recovered from the relics in the XIX Century.
Founded in 1626, under the advocacy of Santa María de la Nieves, near the present Foz do lguazu (Brazil), it was forced to move Southwards, due to the constant siege of the bandeirantes. It was refounded in 1633, near the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción reduction. By the end of the XVII Century, it finally moved to a new location, where the ruins are found today. It is a National Monument from 1945 and a World Heritage Site from 1984.
This Reduccion was founded in the year 1.636, during the process of destruction of the towns by the malocas paulistas, what caused that the town move to its current establishment in the 1.637; it was one of the smallest nuclei, and it was in full consolidation stage when the expulsion of the Jesuits happened in the 1. 767.
The Church is small and it is supposed that the priests had the intention of building a new one at a grater scale, with the population's growth.
The walls of the residence of the religious, the artisan shops and the school stay conserved enough , in spite of the passing years, the forest advance and the fall of several trees.
The existence of a sequence of squares and plazoletas are an unique particularity in relation to the urban pattern of the other reducciones.
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