San Ignacio Mini, magnificent ruins of a Jesuit Reduction in Argentina

Jesuit Reductions were the Guarani indigenous communities that were created by the Jesuits in his attempt to Christianize the original inhabitants of America. A lot of these communities was in what is now the province of Misiones in northern Argentina. The ruins of San Ignacio Mini reduction are among the best preserved and have easy access from the city of Posadas. Why were declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the ruins are most visited by tourists in the region.

San Ignacio was originally founded in 1610 in what is now the state of Parana in Brazil. But because of the constant attacks of the frontiersmen, an organization of Brazilian slave traders, the site of the tube to be changed mission to its present site in 1632. In the eighteenth century, during its peak, the Mission had a population of about 3000 inhabitants. Today, the site can still appreciate some of that prosperous past. Some Baroque buildings we still marvel. Among them is the main church. A magnificent carved red stone building 74 meters long and 34 meters wide. The remains of the founders of the Mission lie under its main altar. It is also possible to see some of the houses of the natives who are still standing. They were tiny houses that accommodate one family and had almost no furniture. Besides visiting the ruins itself, tourists can visit the Museum of San Ignacio Mini Jesuit.

The Spanish crown expelled the Jesuits from America in 1767. Without the protection of the Church, the reductions quickly began to disappear. Although, when we visited the ruins, still can feel the depth of a unique sociological experiment which reached a high degree of autonomy, both politically and economically, for more than 150,000 Indians.