Ruins of São Miguel das Missões
06-05-2025
In the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, in the small town of São Miguel das Missões, stand the majestic remains of a former Jesuit mission: the São Miguel Arcanjo Archaeological Site. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, this emblematic place bears witness to a time when European missionaries and Guarani peoples coexisted in a flourishing society founded in the late 17th century.
Built between 1687 and 1750, this mission was part of the Seven Peoples of the Missions, a network of religious settlements established by Jesuits on territory then under Spanish rule. At its peak, São Miguel was a prosperous center of economic activity, impressive architecture, and artistic expression, marked by a strong European influence over local indigenous traditions.
But this era ended abruptly due to the Guaraní War, conflicts between the Iberian crowns, and the expulsion of the Jesuits. Abandoned in the 19th century, the mission fell into ruin until restoration efforts began in 1925. Today, this sacred place for nearby Guarani communities is being revived as a symbol of memory, resistance, and identity.
Photo : Leandro Kibisz via Wikimedia Commons