Spanish missionaries conversion programme - Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) 275; Chamamé 01600
What and Why
During the Age of Discovery in the 17th century CE, the Spanish conquistadores arrived at the Paraná region of Brazil. With the conquistadores, there were Jesuit missionaries whose mission was to spread the gospel and convert the indigenous locals. The original areas suffered constant attacks of the Portuguese Bandeirantes, the mission moved in the 1630s CE, and did not settle in its current location until late 17th century CE. It was called San Ignacio Miní to distinguish it from the larger mission, San Ignacio Guazú, meaning great in Guaraní.
The mission had a population of around 3,000 people, mostly indigenous peoples. The missionaries established the township in the region and set up administrative, legal and educational systems. These townships were known as reduction (Spanish: reducciones) that included ranches, plantations, schools and churches, and with the intention to lead a harmonious relationship between the locals and the missionaries. The mission produced rich cultural and handicraft products, which the Spanish commercialised by trade and prospered the town until the Jesuits departed in the mid-18th century CE. Luso-Brazilian forces destroyed the mission in 1817 CE. There are several other sites in the region of these missions.
The entire history is well narrated by the movie The Mission.
Toponymy
The city San Ignacio is named after Ignatius (Ignacio, né Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola), the founder of the Jesuit Society of the Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu).
See
Church and citadel (Iglesia y ciudadela)
Originally the main square was bounded by the church, a cabildo, a cemetery, a monastery and some houses. The magnificent church main facade ruins (as above picture) is 74 m length by 24 m width and was designed by Italian priest Juan Brasanelli, and built using the local red sandstone together with the indigenous, and is now the icon of the landmark.
The church ruin site.
The church emblem. This emblem sees the monogram A and M, referring to Ave María, Virgin Mary (Aramaic: מרים, Maryam).
The altar.
Museum (Museo)
Right at the entrance of the site, all the artefacts are housed inside a very well managed museum.
Buy and Do
Gemstone (Piedra preciosa)
Before arriving at San Ignacio Miní, one would usually pass by the Wanda Mines (Minas de Wanda), where tourists can buy various crystals and gemstones.
Chamamé
During our park visit, we met a number of people doing a tango-like dance but in a very informal setting. Of course my lack of knowledge pointed me to the wrong direction, they are not doing tango, which is an ICH as documented earlier in Colonia del Sacramento, but another ICH-inscribed dance called the Chamamé. Chamamé is a folk music genre from the nearby Guarani region.
This particular dance has a history related to the reduction, when the Jesuits encouraged cultural growth until they themselves were expelled by Spain in the late 18th century CE. This cultural recreation were infused with Spanish music and instruments, like guitar, accordion or drums, resulting in what is currently known as Chamamé. Historically, lyrics and poetry were in Guaraní, but today, oral traditions are transmitted in the Jopará dialect or creole, which is a combination of Spanish and Guaraní. The word Jopará itself means 'mix' in Guarani.
The music, songs and dance highlight values such as love for nature, environment, religious devotion and kindness, reflecting the local Guaraní values of life, pointing to the harmony between the human, natural and spiritual realms.
Getting There and Around
The site is around 60 km south from Puerto Iguazú, one either drives there or join a local tour. The entrance ticket to the site is very cheap, at ARS $30 and you can hold the tickets to visit to the other ruins as well. A good day visit.
UNESCO Inscriptions
The ruins of São Miguel das Missões in Brazil, and those of San Ignacio Miní, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa María la Mayor in Argentina, lie at the heart of a tropical forest. They are the impressive remains of five Jesuit missions, built in the land of the Guaranis during the 17th and 18th centuries. Each is characterized by a specific layout and a different state of conservation.
Chamamé is a form of popular cultural expression that is mainly practised in the Corrientes province. Its key components include a style of ‘close embrace’ dancing where participants hold each other chest to chest and follow the music without set choreography. Other elements include musiqueada, a celebratory act that includes a party, prayer and sapukay, a typical phonation or cry accompanied by gestures and movements to convey emotions such as joy, sadness, pain, and bravery. The violin and vihuela were the original instruments used in Chamamé music, but the guitar, harmonica, two-row diatonic button accordion, bandoneon and double bass were later incorporated. The singing is rooted in worship songs. Historically, lyrics and poetry were in Guarani, the regional native language, but today, oral traditions are transmitted in the yopará dialect, a combination of Spanish and Guarani. Chamamé music and dancing are an important part of the regional identity and play major social roles as they are common features of community and family gatherings, religious celebrations, and other festive events. Chamamé highlights values such as love for one’s land, local fauna and flora, religious devotion and a ‘way of being,’ a Guarani expression pointing to the harmony between the human, natural and spiritual realms.
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