Paraguarí

Paraguarí, town, central Paraguay. It lies on the southern slopes of the forested extension of the Brazilian Highlands, including the Cordillera de los Altos, a mountainous chain that reaches westward to Asunción. Originally a Jesuit mission, the town was formally organized in 1775. In 1811, when Paraguay stood aside from the Argentine colonies in their revolt against Spain, Paraguarí was the scene of an important battle in which the Argentines were repulsed and Paraguay’s independence was secured. Paraguarí is now the commercial and manufacturing centre of a fertile and active agricultural hinterland. Cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, oranges, rice, corn (maize), hides, and petitgrain (a base for perfume made from bitter orange leaves) are among its products. Ceramic works, tanneries, and food-processing plants are located in the area. The town is also the headquarters of Paraguay’s artillery regiment and school. Santo Tomás grottoes, on a nearby hill, are noted for their hieroglyphic inscriptions, presumably the work of early indigenous peoples. One long cavern is the object of a Good Friday pilgrimage. Paraguarí is accessible by railway or highway from Asunción, Villarrica, and Encarnación. Pop. (2002) urban area, 8,307.