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Famous for its summer carnivals and year-round festive ambience, Encarnacion is one of the most beautiful cities of Paraguay and is sometimes called the “Pearl of the South.” Situated more than 200 miles southeast of Parana River, Encarnacion’s sexy carnivals and colorful costumes lend it a bohemian appeal that tourist find inviting. During the 16th century, Jesuits, who discovered the place in 1645, built an architectural marvel and named it the Jesuit Missions of Paraguay. Today, its ruins have been declared as an International Heritage Site by the United Nations.
Encarnacion is divided into two districts, the High (old) City, considered the real Encarnacion, and the Low (New) City, which is the financial and commercial sector. The High City contains churches, municipal offices, law courts, schools and suburban residences. The Low City has commercial buildings, the post offices, hotels, factories and banks. The big difference in geographic appearance is further accentuated by the Parana River that runs through the middle of the two cities.
The city first gained importance after the assembly of the Argentina-Paraguay railway in 1854. When the transit was closed, the bridge of San Roque Gonzales became Encarnación’s gateway to the Argentinian city of Posadas. As the Catholic Church’s former Seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Encarnación, it has one of the most active religious populace in the whole of South America.
Encarnación is also known as the birthplace of Alfredo Stroessner, dictator of Paraguay from 1954 to 1989. The period was marked by a strong military presence and political unrest. By the end of the dictatorship Encarnacion’s inhabitants, mostly of Spanish and Amerindian race, focused on developing its tourism industry. This gave rise to its carnivals and religious celebrations to mark its newfound freedom.