CORRIENTES, A LAND WITH HISTORY
The
rich correntinian history is reflected in the corners of its old towns, where
it’s possible to appreciate vestiges of the guarani culture, to discover the
Jesuitical missions and to investigate the past through the independence fights,
meeting this way with our own history. 
OUTSTANDING
HISTORICAL PLACESCorrientes
has a rich myths and popular legends tradition that has been transmitted
from generation to generation until this days. Many of them, have their origin
with the guaraníes.
The
pombero is the most popular of the guaranies goblin. He is described as a short,
thin and heary man, who wears an enormous straw hat. He crosses the forests
during the siesta (noon) with a stick on his hand to take care of birds. He is
the birds protector.
Before
the Spanish arrived to America, different native groups populated the littoral,
one of those were the guaraníes, who had a very developed physical strength and
a wide intelligence.
The
guaraníes did not constitute a nation, but they were organized in tribal groups
with independent governments exerted by caciques.
Their
stature was medium, with solid bodies, they were barely dressed, using vegetal
fiber and cotton clothes made by the women.
Their
houses were big collective houses, built with strong wood, mud and rush.
They
ate products that they achieved by hunting and fishing, they seeded maize,
mandioca, sweet potato, pumpkins and had abundant wild fruits like bananas and
oranges. The guaraní language subsists even today in Paraguay and the north of
Corrientes.
When
Hernandarias was designated by third time governor of the Rio de la Plata
by the Spanish crown, he had an initiative that influenced in the spiritual
conquest of America: the colonization by the Jesuitical Missions.
The first foundation of a Jesuitical reduction at the Uruguay Riverside was in Yapeyú, in 1627, Yapeyú was followed by La Cruz, San Carlos and Santo Tomé in 1632. In all of this cities you can still see the ruins of the old Jesuitical Missions.
Santo Tomé
Had
its origin in a Jesuitical reduction founded with the name of Santo Tomas Apóstol
and relocated in this site in 1738, because the constant attacks of the
bandeirantes.
Jesuitical
Culture Museum: Collection of objects with historical importance.
“Pablo Argilaga” Regional Museum: Has numerous objects from the Jesuitical Missions time, ruins of columns stand out; stone statures; a sun clock, a very used tool by the jesuitas.
Historical
objects of the old reduction and documents can be found here.
Yapeyú
has hostels in front the river and an excellent provincial camping.
References
Center:The building was
a workshop during the Jesuitical time. The ceiling was rebuilt with recycled
material from the Yapeyú Mission. In this place is all the information about
the city:
history, projects, crafts and informative pamphlets.
Father
Furlong Jesuitical Museum: Inaugurated in 1978 over the Jesuitical
church’s ruins, its architecture was inspired by the octogonales floor tiles
used by the Missionaries.
La Cruz
In La Cruz there is a past full with guaraníes, Jesuits and bandeirantes attacks. A past that became visible when you walk on its sand streets or when you discover the old carved stone walls, piled up by the guaraníes.
Sun
clock: Built in 1730, it is one of the few relics that remain intact
after the big fire of 1817.
Luminarias:
They were used to illuminate the city, the majority of them are in the
San Martín Square.
Ruins
of the Jesuitical Walls: They can be seen in several points of the city,
where the old center of the Jesuitical time was. You can not loose the Cortada
Primer Centenario stroll.
San CarlosVestiges
of history in every step. The town is located over an old reduction, founded in
1638.
This
old city is the one that more rest of the past conserves in the country,
that’s why is very common to find old objects when you remove the earth a
little bit
Jesuitical
Art Museum: It conserves pieces
from the time of the reductions and has a complete Documentation Center.
THE
FOOTPRINT ZONE
This
region whit turistic atractive, gives the possibility to enjoy every one of the
aspects of the region, thanks to the typical urban landscape of the correntinian
towns whit a characteristic architecture in the zone. The sand streets,
beautiful landscapes, a tradition full of historical and actual culture, make of
it an excelent choice for the visitant.
HEROES
CRADLE
San
Martín’s Origins.
San Martín was born a 25th February of 1778 in Yapeyú, father of the Motherland and Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru.
Today you can visit his native city where a small temple conserves the ruins of his house, inaugurated in 1938. In 1998 the ashes of the Libertador’s parents were brought.
In a sector given by the Destacamiento de Granaderos a Caballo Yapeyú, is the Sanmartinian Museum whose sample includes from the Jesuitical time until the present days. The Museum has many pieces of great historical value, for example the bed where General San Martín used to sleep.
Location:
Aguado Street and Libertador Av.
In
the 19th century the Gral. Belgrano crossed the heart of Corrientes with his
army.
In
1810 he founded the City of Curuzú Cuatía. After that, crossing the Pauibre
creek , he took northwest course until the Corriente river, and bordering the
Batel river in the Esteros del Iberá, he arrived to Conception where he
recruited Pedro Rios, the well known Drum of Tacuarí.
Today
this way is ideal to live the history through foot excursions, cavalcades, and
bicycles; unifying nature and high value culture.
HISTORICAL CALENDAR
17
of August
General
San Martín’s Death Anniversary. Yapeyú.
LUGARES HISTÓRICOS DESTACADOS
