The Bell Tower of the Ruins of Trinidad (Trinidad, Itapúa Department)
From the late 17th century through the 18th century, the Jesuits established mission settlements—base villages—in southern Spanish America and parts of Portuguese Brazil, aiming to settle indigenous peoples and convert them to Christianity.
The site now known as the “Trinidad Ruins” was the mission of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná. Built in 1706, this mission aimed to create a self-sufficient settlement, featuring a church, meeting hall, school, workshops, and dwellings for the indigenous people.
However, in the late 18th century, the expulsion of the Jesuits led to the abandonment of these missions. This pop-up card depicts the bell tower still standing at the Trinidad Ruins today.
The missions established by the Jesuits spanned what is now Paraguay, southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and eastern Bolivia. Several of these missions are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
