The Missions of Chiquitos

The Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos are located at the northeast of Bolivia, at 200 Km. far from Santa Cruz city, capital of the department.

To travel to Chiquitania is to transport oneself to the missionary world to discover the towns founded by the Jesuits towards the end of the 17th century, where these wanted to make a marvellous utopia a reality: that of the creation of the earth, the "City of God" a peaceful evangelization and civilization of the native towns.

Located in the heart of the Bolivian forest, the Jesuit Missions are the main Jesuit's settlement in the new world who remained in the Chiquitanas lands less than one century, creating admirable societies in productivity, order and architecture.

The Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos lasted at time for more than three centuries. They were built between 1691 and 1760, and they awake the admiration and interest of those who visit them due to the architecture of their temples of mestizo-Baroque style, where they highlight paintings, murals, splendid golden altars, colossal columns carved in wood and a variety of beautiful carved that adorn the altarpieces, pulpits and set of drawers. The churches emulate the appearance of European constructions, due to the influence of the Swiss priest and main architect of The Missions, the Jesuit Martin Schmit, who worked with indigenous and Jesuits groups, built these impressive churches, where you can appreciate the technique learned by native people that mixed with their own vision turns into enriched art.

In the towns forbidden to Spaniards, the natives would not only learn to farm the land and realize all the handicraft works, but they were also introduced in the world of painting and sculpture, music and dancing to worship the Lord. The wealth of the Baroque music, composed and executed in the missions - whose score are an unique collection in America - are currently conserved in the File of Chiquitos de Concepción, and they are executed with a biennial frequency in the "Missions of Chiquitos" American Renaissance and Baroque International Music Festivals.

Currently the magnificent temples are still kept in place, the urban design and the remembrance of religious and folkloric customs.

The high artistic level and the deep cultural meaning of the works made UNESCO to declare the Patrimony of Humanity the towns of San Javier, Concepción, San Miguel, San Rafael, Santa Ana and San José de Chiquitos in 1991.

The Missionary route

From Santa Cruz to San Javier - 221 kilometers (paved route)
From San Javier to Concepción - 69 kilometers (unpaved route - padding earth)
From Concepción to San Ignacio - 178 kilometers (un paved route - padding earth)
From San Ignacio to San Miguel, San Rafael y Santa Ana - 159 kilometers (unpaved route)
From San Ignacio to San José de Chiquitos 206 kilometers (unpaved route)

San Javier

First reduction founded by the Jesuits in 1691, and it was the seat of a music school and a shop for the making of musical instruments. Around the town, the vegetation was characterized by the surprising symbiosis of the bibosi and motacu plants.

Nowadays it is an agricultural and cattle - raising town. Its rustic aspect of the earth - floor streets and traditional manor houses, with adobe walls decorated with missional motifs and shady galleries with wooden pitchforks, it creates an ideal surrounding that highlights the majesty of the missional group.

Some attractive tour sites:

The Square, the Church with the Major Altarpiece, the Misereen Chapel, the Confessional boxes and the belfry. Besides knowing the Las Piedras del Paquio, the Mirador, Piedra de los Apóstoles, Aguas Calientes, the Tumbos and Aguas Tibias country houses.

Concepción

Founded in 1708, it is characterized for its simplicity and quietness of its streets boarder lined by adobe houses with galleries. It also had a great variety of orchids.

Here the Jesuits past are revived with a greater frequency on the Holy Week celebrations.

Some attractive tour sites:

The Square, the Bishopry, the Cathedral of the Apostle Vicariate, the Belfry, the Confessional boxes, the Musical File, the Missional Museum and the Anthropological Museum.

Besides knowing the artificial dam, the stone of Santa Teresita, the spa of Zapoco, the Pachanga and Dolorida lagoon and Pedrito port.

San Ignacio de Velasco

Considered the greatest town of the misional route and the main gateway to Noel Kempff Mercado Park.

It is characterized by the revaluing of the missional past reflected in the creation of handicraft shops of ceramics, furniture, embroidered hammocks and leather items.

Some attractive tour sites:

The Church of San Ignacio de Velasco, the Cathedral of the Bishopry, the Pulpit and the Confessionary boxes. Besides knowing the towns of San Miguel, San Rafael and Santa Ana where the indigenous customs are still in use.

San José de Chiquitos

A town that is different from the missional group due to its stone work. The absence of tall trees used in the other missional churches for the great columns for the façade and the presence of slab - stone quarries and lime deposits definitely differentiate San Jose de Chiquitos.