Asunción

Asunción in 1615 by the Inca painter Guamán Poma in his work "Nueva corónica y buen gobierno". Royal Library, Denmark.[19]

The Spanish conquistador Juan de Ayolas (died c. 1537) may have first visited the site of the future city on his way north, up the Paraguay River, looking for a passage to the mines of Alto Perú (present-day Bolivia). Later, Juan de Salazar y Espinosa and Gonzalo de Mendoza, a relative of Pedro de Mendoza, were sent in search of Ayolas, but failed to find him. On his way up and then down the river, de Salazar stopped briefly at a bay in the left bank to resupply his ships. He found the natives friendly, and decided to found a fort there in August 1537. He named it Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption – the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption on August 15).[20]

Asunción's Downtown in 1872

In 1542 natives destroyed Buenos Aires, and the Spaniards there fled to Asunción. Thus the city became the center of a large Spanish colonial province comprising part of Brazil, present-day Paraguay and northeastern Argentina: the giant Province of the Indies. In 1603 Asunción was the seat of the First Synod of Asunción, which set guidelines for the evangelization of the natives in their lingua franca, Guaraní.

In 1731 an uprising under José de Antequera y Castro was one of the first rebellions against Spanish colonial rule. The uprising failed, but it was the first sign of the independent spirit that was growing among the criollos, mestizos and natives of Paraguay. The event influenced the independence of Paraguay, which subsequently materialized in 1811. The secret meetings between the independence leaders to plan an ambush against the Spanish Governor in Paraguay (Bernardo de Velasco) took place at the home of Juana María de Lara, in downtown Asunción. On the night of May 14 and May 15, 1811, the rebels succeeded and forced governor Velasco to surrender. Today, Lara's former home, known as Casa de la Independencia (House of the Independence), operates as a museum and historical building.

A tram in the city centre in 1986. The tram system closed in the late 1990s.

After Paraguay became independent, significant change occurred in Asunción. Under the rule of Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (in office 1813–1840) roads were built throughout the city and the streets were named. However, during the presidency of Carlos Antonio López (President 1844–1862) Asunción (and Paraguay) saw further progress as the new president implemented new economic policies. More than 400 schools, metallurgic factories and the first railroad service in South America were built during the López presidency. After López died in 1862, his son Francisco Solano López became the new president and led the country through the disastrous Paraguayan War that lasted for five years (1864–1870). On 1 January 1869, the capital city Asunción fell to Brazilian forces led by Gen. João de Souza da Fonseca Costa. After the end of the armed conflict, Brazilian troops occupied Asunción until 1876.

Many historians have claimed that this war provoked a steady downfall of the city and country, since it massacred two-thirds of the country's population. Progress slowed down greatly afterwards, and the economy stagnated.

After the Paraguayan War, Asunción began a slow attempt at recovery. Towards the end of the 19th century and during the early years of the 20th century, a flow of immigrants from Europe and the Ottoman Empire came to the city. This led to a change in the appearance of the city as many new buildings were built and Asunción went through an era more prosperous than any since the war.

A tramway in Asunción opened in 1871, initially using horse-drawn trams and steam-powered trams, with electric trams being introduced in 1913.[21] The last tram service was discontinued around 1995, followed by formal closure in November 1997.[21][22]

Calle Palma, in the old town

Between 1932 and 1935, Paraguay faced a war with Bolivia in the Chaco War and at that time Asunción became a place of relief and help for the wounded in the conflict. The Defensores del Chaco stadium located in the Sajonia neighborhood owes its name precisely to the fact that the army that would go to fight against the Bolivians in defense of the Chaco was recruited in this place.

Asunción has been the first completely urban city in Paraguay since approximately the middle of the 20th century. On the other hand, until the early 1980s, Asunción was the only city in Paraguay with more than 100,000 inhabitants, taking into account that the rural population has always predominated in Paraguay. At the end of the 1980s, the rural exodus began, contributing to the demographic increase —especially urban— of Central Department (part of current Greater Asunción). Consequently, the population of Asunción remained practically stagnant since then.

In March 1991, just two years after the coup d'état against the government of Alfredo Stroessner —which lasted almost 35 years— the Treaty of Asunción was signed with the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. This treaty gave rise to the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), a regional integration organization.

Since 1993, Asunción has become an autonomous municipality administered as a capital district and is not formally integrated into any department. Before 1993, it managed the Central Department —although had not been part of it since 1973—. Later, Areguá —a city with a colonial feel— began to be the capital, and therefore, to administer the department until today.

In May 2000, the Congress building was attacked by tanks in the midst of a failed coup d'état, which led to the president declaring a state of exception at the national level. In August 2004, the city suffered the greatest tragedy in the history of the country, after the Chaco War, with the Tragedy of Ycua Bolaños, a fire that claimed more than 300 lives, with hundreds injured.[23]

Due to the unbridled growth and lack of urban planning and infrastructure in the capital and its surrounding areas —in recent years—, Asunción is becoming a city with problems similar to the large metropolises of the world (e.g.: intense traffic during rush hours, insufficiency of services, among others). However, at the same time, there are dozens of investments in the city, making it one of the cities with the most economic growth in the region. In order to improve the transportation situation, several alternatives are planned, such as the metrobus or the electric train, among others. Also the construction of more viaducts and tunnels.[24]

Likewise, Asunción has been the meeting point of the largest demonstrations in Paraguay, the most recent being the Paraguayan March of 1999 (in which 8 protesters were shot dead, causing the resignation of then-president Cubas), the impeachment of President Lugo in 2012 (which caused the suspension of Paraguay in Mercosur),[25] or the political crisis of 2017 (protesters set fire to the Congress building),[26] among others.

Héroes del Chaco Bridge over the Paraguay River, which connects Asunción with Nueva Asunción

The biogeographical areas of Asunción are two, the bay area, and the interior area.[28] The interior area used to be covered with lush forests that made up part of the Alto Paraná Atlantic forests, these easily exceeded 40 meters (130 ft) in height. Among the common floral species we found or is still find there are the tree fern or chachï (Alsophyla atrovirens), the pink lapacho (Tabebuia heptaphylla), the yvyra pytä (Peltophorum dubium), the guatambú or yvyra ñeti (Balfourodendron riedelianum), the cedar or ygary (Cedrela fissilis), etc.

Among the large animals that lived in the area that is currently Asunción were the jaguar (Panthera onca), the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), the capuchin monkey (Cebus apella), etc. The last remnants of this great ecosystem can be seen in the Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asunción and in the surroundings of Cerro Lambare; in these places can still be find medium and small animals, such as the toco toucan (Ramphastos toco), the gold tegu (Tupinambis teguixin), the opossum (Didelphis albiventris), the Paraguayan magpie (Cyanocorax chrysops), the masakaragua'i or cucucucha (Troglodytes aedon), etc; while some small birds such as the cardinal (Paroaria coronata), the turtle dove (Zenaida meloda), the chingolo or cachilito (Zonotrichia capensis), the golden goldfinch (Sicalis flaveola), the saijovy or common celestine (Thraupis sayaca), etc. coexist in the densely populated areas of the city with the domestic pigeon, which is an invasive specie that is reproducing at an accelerated rate, causing damage to the facades of buildings and in some cases displacing the local birdlife.[29]

On the other hand, the bay area has an approximate area of 375 hectares (930 acres) and is located just 2 km (1.2 mi) from the old town. It is one of the most important stopping places during the journey of Nearctic and Southern migratory birds.[30] Asunción Bay has a wide variety of habitats, yet their availability changes throughout the year giving as a result large seasonal fluctuations in the water level of the Paraguay River, which make the depth and extent of bay flooding vary considerably. During the southern winter, when the water is abundantly high, the bay is largely underwater, but towards the end of the season when the water level drops, sandy and clay beaches (tidal marsh) appear. If the waters continue to recede, most of the marshes dry out and become grasslands, some of which remain wet. A total of 258 bird species have been recorded, including 7 globally endangered species and 28 species that nest in North America and migrate to southern South America. More than 3% of the global population of one of them, the cinnamon sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis), passes through the bay during its migration to the south, turning Asunción Bay into an Important Bird Area (IBA).[31]

View of the city's greenery from Jade Park

Asunción has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) that closely borders on a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw), characterized by hot, humid summers (average of 27.5 °C or 81.5 °F in January), and mild winters (average of 17.6 °C, 63.7 °F in July).[32] Relative humidity is high throughout the year, so the heat index is higher than the true air temperature in the summer, and in the winter it can feel cooler. The average annual temperature is 23 °C (73 °F). The average annual precipitation is high, with 1,400 millimeters (55 in) distributed in over 80 days yearly. The highest recorded temperature was 42.8 °C (109.0 °F) on 1 October 2020,[33] while the lowest recorded temperature was −1.2 °C (29.8 °F) on 27 June 2011.[34] The highest rainfall accumulation within 24 hours was 222 mm (8.74 in) on February 26, 2014.[35]

Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures that can eventually exceed 40 °C (104 °F), due to ambient humidity. The average temperature in January is 28 °C (82 °F). Hours of sunshine abound, as do isolated showers and short summer storms. In Asunción itself, the heat is even more accentuated than in the surrounding area, due to the urban heat island effect. The warm north wind that blows from Brazil is the predominant one in the season, although sometimes winds from the south bring more pleasant precipitation and temperatures.

Winters are mild and quite irregular because throughout the season there can be cold days —minimums around 0 °C (32 °F)— as well as quite warm days —maximums around 30 °C (86 °F)—. Generally, a typical winter day includes mild afternoons, as well as cool mornings and evenings. The average temperature in winter is 18 °C (64 °F). Ground frost may usually occur throughout the season, especially in the suburban and rural areas of Greater Asunción. The fresh south wind that blows from Argentina is the predominant one in the season, although sometimes winds from the north bring warmer temperatures.

Snow is unknown in modern times, but it fell during the Little Ice Age, the last time being in June 1751.[36] Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, as storms or showers usually develop quite frequently; except for the winter months, when weak but continuous drizzles are more common. The relative humidity in the environment remains high all year round (averaging 70%).

Asunción generally has a very short dry season between May and September, but the coldest months are June, July and August. During the wet season, Asunción is generally hot and humid though towards the end of this season, it becomes noticeably cooler. In contrast, Asunción's dry season is pleasantly mild. Asunción's annual precipitation values observe a summer maximum, due to severe subtropical summer thunderstorms which travel southward from northern Paraguay, originating in the Gran Chaco region of the northwestern part of the country. The wettest and driest months of the year are April and July, on average receiving respectively 166 mm (6.54 in) and 39 mm (1.54 in) of precipitation.

Regional Real Estate focuses on Asunción due to low inflation, exchange rate stability, high rental income, and lower taxes. Most of the buildings are intelligent and have cutting-edge technology, like others that combine mixed uses. Between 2015 and 2020, real estate developments demanded an investment of more than US$1 billion, and the place in Asunción where this impact received the most was on Aviadores del Chaco Avenue and Santa Teresa Avenue.[51]

Much of this achievement was due to the change in customs that citizens have been presenting, in relation to the fact that many owners changed their way of living and are more demanding with comfort, especially with technology, which enhances the possibility of going to live in apartments to acquire comfort, location, security, price, quality, among other issues. Another key is that Paraguay in recent years has noticed the rise in the purchasing power of the middle and upper-middle classes (young professionals, with an average age of 35 years), and this situation has led them to search and buy a home in the departments, in order to work in the offices that were opened from 2014 to the present.[52]

• 
  Miranda Tower
• 
  The Tower
• 
  Sky Tower
• 
  World Trade Center Asunción
• 
  Jade Park
• 
  Eminent Towers
• 
  Palacio de los Patos
• 
  Paseo La Galería

The city has a large number of both public and private schools. The best-known public schools are the Colegio Nacional de la Capital (which is one of the oldest schools in the city, founded in 1877), Colegio Técnico Nacional, Colegio Nacional Presidente Franco, and Colegio Nacional Asunción Escalada. The best-known private schools are, American School of Asunción, Colegio San José, St. Annes School, Colegio del Sol, Colegio Santa Clara, Colegio Goethe and Colegio de la Asunción, Colegio Las Almenas, Colegio Campoalto, Colegio Dante Alighieri, Colegio San Francisco, Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Colegio Santa Teresa de Jesús, Colegio Inmaculado Corazón de María, Salesianito, Colegio Cristo Rey, Colegio Internacional.

The main universities in the city are the Universidad Americana and the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (state-run). The Universidad Nacional de Asunción was founded in 1889 and has an enrollment of just over 40,000 students. The Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was founded in 1960 and has a current enrollment of around 21,000 students. The Católica has a small campus in the downtown area next to the cathedral and a larger campus in the Santa Ana neighborhood, outwards toward the adjoining city of Lambaré, while the Universidad Nacional has its main campus in the city of San Lorenzo, some 5 km (3 mi) eastward from Asunción. There are also a number of smaller, privately run universities such as Uninorte, Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and Universidad Autónoma de Asunción, among others.

Approximately 90% of the population of Asunción professes Catholicism.[54] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Asunción covers an area of 2,582 square kilometers (997 square miles) including the city and surrounding area and has a total population of 1,780,000, of whom 1,612,000 are Catholic.[54] The Catholic Archbishop is Eustaquio Pastor Cuquejo Verga, C.SS.R.[54] In Paraguay's capital there are also places of worship of other Christian denominations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as of other religions including Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.

Most people in Paraguay speak one of two languages as their principal language: Paraguayan Spanish (spoken by 56.9% of the population) and Guaraní (spoken by 11.2%). 27.4% of the population speaks the Jopará dialect, a mix of Guaraní with loanwords from Spanish (Creole). Other languages are represented by 4.5% of the population.

Population by sex and age according to the 2002 census

Asunción is organised geographically into districts and these in turn bring together the different neighbourhoods.

• 
  Districts of Asunción
• 
  Neighborhoods of Asunción

The 68 neighborhoods of Asunción[55]

N.º	Neighborhood	District	N.º	Neighborhood	District	N.º	Neighborhood	District	N.º	Neighborhood	District
1	Banco San Miguel	San Roque	2	Bañado Cará Cará	Trinidad	3	Bella Vista	Trinidad	4	Botánico	Trinidad
5	Cañada del Ybyray	Trinidad	6	Carlos A. López	La Encarnación	7	Carmelitas	Trinidad	8	Catedral	La Catedral
9	Ciudad Nueva	San Roque	10	Dr. Francia	La Encarnación	11	La Encarnación	La Encarnación	12	Gral. Caballero	San Roque
13	Gral. Díaz	La Catedral	14	Herrera	La Recoleta	15	Hipódromo	La Recoleta	16	Itá Enramada	Santa María
17	Itá Pytã Punta	La Encarnación	18	Jara	San Roque	19	Jukyty	Santa María	20	Los Laureles	La Recoleta
21	Loma Pytá	Trinidad	22	Madame Lynch	Trinidad	23	Manorá	Trinidad	24	Mcal. Estigarribia	La Recoleta
25	Mcal. López	San Roque	26	Mbocayaty	Trinidad	27	Mburicaó	San Roque	28	Mburucuyá	Trinidad
29	Las Mercedes	San Roque	30	Nazareth	La Recoleta	31	Ñu Guazú	Trinidad	32	Obrero	La Catedral
33	Pinozá	San Roque	34	Recoleta	La Recoleta	35	Republicano	Santa María	36	Ricardo Brugada	San Roque
37	Roberto L. Pettit	La Catedral	38	Sajonia	La Encarnación	39	Salvador del Mundo	Trinidad	40	San Antonio	La Encarnación
41	San Blas	Trinidad	42	San Cayetano	La Catedral	43	San Cristóbal	La Recoleta	44	San Jorge	La Recoleta
45	San Juan	San Roque	46	San Pablo	La Recoleta	47	San Roque	San Roque	48	San Vicente	San Roque
49	Santa Ana	La Catedral	50	Santa Librada	Santa María	51	Santa María	La Recoleta	52	Santa Rosa	Trinidad
53	Trinidad	Trinidad	54	Santo Domingo	Trinidad	55	Silvio Pettirossi	San Roque	56	Tablada Nueva	Trinidad
57	Tacumbú	La Encarnación	58	Tembetary	La Recoleta	59	Terminal	La Recoleta	60	Villa Aurelia	La Recoleta
61	Villa Morra	La Recoleta	62	V. de Fátima	Trinidad	63	V. de la Asunción	Trinidad	64	V. del Huerto	San Roque
65	Vista Alegre	San Roque	66	Ycuá Satí	La Recoleta	67	Ytay	La Recoleta	68	Zeballos Cué	Trinidad

Ñu Guazú highway

The road infrastructure has been maintained for various periods of time without significant changes. The main access routes to the city are avenues and to a lesser extent highways and viaducts. Previously, the electric tram existed as a means of transportation until the end of the last century, but it was replaced by new fleets of buses. The construction of the metrobus and the local train was planned, which will connect the capital with the rest of the metropolitan area, but it was interrupted due to various irregularities.[56]

Mariscal López Avenue connects the capital with the neighboring city of Fernando de la Mora and passes through two large areas: the Villa Morra neighborhood and the Old town; General Santos Avenue is an important access route to the capital, it is mostly used by the inhabitants of neighboring Lambaré; while Eusebio Ayala Avenue is mainly used by buses during peak hours, due to the large number of lanes available. The Acceso Sur viaduct connects with the Mercado de Abasto, an important supply center. Madame Lynch Avenue borders practically the entire eastern area of the city, being a quick route to cross from one side to the other. Aviadores del Chaco Avenue is an important access road from Luque and also serves as a highway for access to the Conmebol building complex and the international airport, among other important places. Ñu Guazú highway connects the cities of Luque and Mariano Roque Alonso with Asunción.[57]

Silvio Pettirossi International Airport

Because the Paraguay River runs right next to Asunción the city is served by a river terminal in the downtown area. This port is strategically located inside a bay and it is where most freight enters and leaves the country. There is a lesser terminal in the Sajonia neighborhood, and a shuttle port in Ita Enramada, almost opposite the Argentine city of Clorinda, Formosa.

Public transportation is used heavily and is served through buses (locally called colectivos, micros or buses) that reach all the regions of the city and surrounding dormitory communities. From October 23, 2020, an electronic card is required to use these buses. There are two cards available from two different providers: "Jaha" (Guarani for Let's Go) and "Más" (Spanish for More).

The main long-distance bus terminal (TOA, or Terminal de Ómnibus de Asunción) is on the República Argentina Avenue and its bus services connect all of the Departments of Paraguay, as well as international routes to nearby countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay. Some 115 companies service more than 1,300 departures per day. As many as 55,000 passengers depart on these routes daily, with demand peaking on special occasions like Holy Week and New Year's Day.

Silvio Pettirossi International Airport is Paraguay's main national and international gateway, located at Luque, suburb of the capital, Asunción. It is named after Paraguayan aviator Silvio Petrossi and is formerly known as Presidente Stroessner International Airport. As Paraguay's busiest airport, it is the hub of Latam Paraguay and Paranair.

Bolt and Uber are available for ride-share clients, and compete with various taxi companies. Payment in cash (efectivo) is the standard, except when using an app to pre-pay via credit or debit card. Cash is the default payment for most day-to-day needs, including most transportation, meals, and lodging.

Centro Médico La Costa

Asunción houses most of the large medical centers throughout the country. There are currently more than 50 places that provide primary health care. Public Health is dependent on the State and completely free. Through a resolution promoted by President Fernando Lugo in December 2009, free treatment applies at the national level. This has made it possible for more people to have access to different health services, ranging from outpatient consultations to highly complex interventions in public hospitals.[58]

Important private sanatoriums and highly complex centers offer their services. Some of them are the Medical Emergency Center, the Clinic Hospital, the Military Hospital, the Central Hospital of the Social Security Institute, the Rigoberto Caballero Police Hospital, among others.

Asunción previously did not have its own police force. Despite being an independent municipality, Paraguayan legislation does not establish the creation of police forces by districts. All public security was protected by the National Police. However, on December 23, 2010, the former municipal mayor Arnaldo Samaniego promulgated the first ordinance that created the Municipal Police of Asunción, taking into account that one of the priorities of his government program was citizen security. Currently, the Municipal Police of Asunción is made up of 52 police officers.[59]

Aviadores del Chaco Avenue

In the construction projects of "Avenida Costanera Norte" and "Parque Bicentenario" a new neighborhood was created with 144 popular homes to resettle families that were directly affected by the plans to improve the infrastructure of the city.[60] The project included a "social component" that cost around $5.8 million to build the houses and infrastructure of the new neighborhood and pay compensation to families who were going to leave the area.[61]

The coastal park of about 13 hectares was built. This park unites the old buildings of the urban area, such as the Palacio de los López, with the Cabildo and Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción.[62] It was inaugurated in May 2011, within the framework of the celebrations of the bicentennial of the independence of Paraguay.[63]

Subsequently, work on the "Parque Lineal Costanera" project continued, the first stage of which was enabled at the end of 2019 with the following characteristics: exclusive bicycle lanes, paths, fair spaces, gym equipment, and a parking lot with capacity for 350 vehicles.[64] The second stage of this linear park will add 10 hectares of new green space, contemplating three key components: a coastal linear park, a component for the National Navy, and a boat ramp. The characteristics of the second stage Linear Park are: 3-meter-wide bike paths, parking spaces, bicycle parking, drinking fountains, toilets, 3 reinforced concrete bridges, soccer fields, playgrounds, outdoor gym areas, first aid, and a police booth.[65]

Ministerial axis of the port

These are five towers where six ministries of the Executive branch will be installed, located in the port of Asunción. These works culminated at the end of 2020 and constitute the new building corporations built in the old town, which will serve as an anchor for the reconversion of the place. The project of the Master Plan for the Reconversion of the Port of Asunción, promoted by The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) was conceived in the 1990s, and has been reconfirmed in each government since then. An example of this is the completion of the Costanera Sur and Costanera Norte works. The construction of the new government offices is the nerve center of Asunción, according to Óscar Stark, manager of the Urban Reconversion Program. The project includes scaffolding to prevent the problems generated by the growth of the Paraguay River, with a level of 64, which refers to a protection of up to 10 meters. Historical data indicate that the highest flood in the last 100 years was at level 63.[66] The construction of a museum is also planned, which is a posthumous work of the architect Carlos Colombino, of which the project has been completed, and whose investment will be financed through the public-private alliance (PPA), which will equip a shopping center, hotel, convention center, and apartment buildings.[67]

Paraguayan war flags at the Institute of History and Military Museum

City Memory Museum, at the Manzana de la Rivera

Casa de la Independencia

Cabildo Museum

Museums in and around Asunción are generally small. In compensation, the wide variety of its heritage allowed the creation of a large number of small rooms that give visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of the country through the artistic expressions contained therein.[68] These are some of the museums found in Asunción:[69][70]

• Juan Sinforiano Bogarín Museum: Named after its founder, illustrious priest and first archbishop of Paraguay. It was a public prison in colonial times, where Pedro Juan Caballero, hero of independence, was imprisoned during the government of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. This diocesan museum is rich in collection of Jesuit and Franciscan carvings.

• Casa de la Independencia Museum: It was built in the colonial era and preserves objects that belonged to the heroes of the Independence of Paraguay, their relatives, or that are related to that time. It consists of five rooms and a large hall, arranged around a patio. At the entrance, you can see a mural by the ceramist José Laterza Parodi that represents the most prominent buildings and places of colonial Asunción.

• Postal Historical Museum of the Central Post Office: Constructed in the late 19th century, the Central Post Office has been operating since 1913. The museum was created by the Postal and Telegraph Directorate, with collections of stamps sent by the Universal Postal Union.

• National Museum of Fine Arts: Inaugurated in 1909 by the collector Juan Silvano Godoy, it has a rich collection of paintings and engravings from different periods, schools, as well as national and international authors. It also has marble sculptures, wood carvings, bronze and plaster busts, etc. In addition, it has an archive of documents related to the history of Paraguay.

• Museum of Memories "Dictatorship and Human Rights": The relatives of the victims of Alfredo Stroessner's dictatorship began the search for the whereabouts of their loved ones, as the years passed they gathered data, photographs, and reconstructed lives, names and surnames. They then published a book that became a true reference, titled "Semillas de Vida Ñemity Ra." Based on their photos and information, this museum gathers a special collection.[71][72]

• Doctor Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum: It has an important archaeological and ethnographic collection of indigenous groups that inhabited and still inhabit Paraguay. It also has a library specialized in anthropology, history, and natural sciences.

• General Bernardino Caballero National Historical Museum: Its headquarters are the house where Bernardino Caballero lived, where you can see his furniture and personal objects.

• Paraguayan Touring and Automobile Club Museum: Preserves pieces related to the first automobiles in Paraguay. This museum exhibits the car considered the oldest in the country, which belonged to Dr. Andrés Barbero.

• Institute of History and Military Museum of the Ministry of Defense: It has an important collection of relics from the military history of Paraguay organized in different rooms. In addition, it has temporary exhibitions on relevant historical events.

• Numismatic Museum of the Central Bank: As the name says, it is responsible for the numismatic history of Paraguay. In addition, it has as an annex many jewels from the time of the War of the Triple Alliance, and the Cellario Collection. In addition, in its facilities there is the first national coin dated 1845.

• Visual Arts Center or Clay Museum: It is aimed at showing popular art, indigenous art, and contemporary art of Paraguay on equal terms. Its rigorously selected artistic heritage has made it, in a very short time, one of the most important references of the arts in Paraguay and one of the most notable ones in South America. The rooms of the clay museum, whose heritage exceeds 4,000 pieces corresponding to mestizo productions from the 17th century onwards, house objects that include wood carvings, fabrics, lace, ceramics and goldsmithing, in addition to including a good number of pre-Columbian ceramic pieces originating from the entire American continent.[73]

• Manzana de la Rivera: Brings together nine houses built at different times. The oldest one, the "Casa Viola", which dates back to the 18th century (1750–1758), is a colonial construction that corresponds before the times of dictator José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. The "Castelvi House" was built in 1804 and shows a typical colonial construction system, and was restored in 1995; since 1996 it has functioned as the City Memory Museum.[74]

• Metropolitan Cathedral Treasure Museum: Specializes in items of sacred art, priestly attire, images, altarpieces, sacred vessels, niches, and candelabras.

• Mariscal José Félix Estigarribia Museum: Houses uniforms, weapons, boots, decorations, and other military elements.

• House of Paraguayan Culture: It protects objects and documents of Military History from the Colonial era, the Independent era, the time of the Paraguayan War and the time of the Chaco War.

• Paraguayan Union of Veterans of the Chaco War: Protects trophies and photographs of the Chaco War.

• Museum of Sacred Art: It is a museum with an important collection of pieces of sculpture and goldsmithing of Guaraní Baroque sacred art.

Botanical Garden of Asunción

Asunción was declared the "Green Capital of Ibero-America" during the period of former intendant Arnaldo Samaniego (2010-2015) in Lisbon, at the meeting of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI). The municipal public policy called "Rohayhu Asunción, Green Capital" (Guaraní: I love you Asunción, the green capital of the world) fulfilled seven indicators that must be adequate by the city to opt for the denomination. These indicators are biodiversity or green areas per person, public green areas, number of trees planted, number of bird species, and number of migratory birds; Waste: waste ratio, collectors and proper disposal, waste generated per person, waste recycling and refusal policy; Land use and buildings: population density, green building policy, land use policy and urban planning; Transportation: extension of the mass transportation network, number of cars and motorcycles, urban mass transportation policy, vehicle congestion reduction policy; Water: population with access to drinking water, water sustainability policy; Sanitation: population with access to improved sanitation, sanitation policy, storm drainage works; Air Quality: clean air policy; and Environmental Governance: environmental monitoring and public participation.[75]

The selection of the seven treasures of cultural heritage material took place in Asunción during the months of April and May 2009.[76] Promoted by the "Organización Capital Americana de la Cultura", with the collaboration of the Paraguayan authorities participating in the election was carried out with the intention to disclose the material cultural heritage of Asunción.

A total of 45 candidates have chosen to become one of the treasures of cultural heritage material Assumption. The result of the vote, which involved 12,417 people, is as follows: Palacio de los López, the National Pantheon of Heroes, the Cabildo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Guaraní Hotel, the Municipal Theater and the Church of the Holy Trinity.[77]

Asunción waterfront

The Paraguayan hospitality industry has seen significant investments in recent years. This economic sector is contributing strongly to the growth of the country's tourism sector. This brought with it greater capacity and quality of accommodation and, according to Senatur data, between 2013 and 2017 the number of beds grew 34%. In 2017, Paraguay reached record numbers in the arrival of international tourists, with growth three times higher than the world average, a dynamism that has been underpinned by the increase in the number of accommodation establishments in the country.[78]

At the country level there are more than 905 accommodation establishments, totaling 33,813 beds, and one of the challenges that is still being faced is the hotel categorization with sustainability criteria, which if approved would place Paraguay at the forefront in this regard. In 2017, approximately 1.6 million foreign tourists arrived, generating foreign exchange earnings of more than US$600 million, especially in Asunción.[78]

Hotel entrepreneurs, both national and representatives of international chains, invested their capital in favor of national tourism development thanks to the confidence generated by economic stability, the strength of the currency, and the continuity of public policies regarding tourism by part of the National Government. Added to this is the commitment of the tourism sector to a solid public-private alliance, which allows it to work committedly in the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Meetings Tourism since 2014, positioning the country as a competitive regional player in this matter.

Plaza Eligio Ayala, in front of the National Congress

National Pantheon of the Heroes

Paseo de la Guarania, a water organ that plays guarania melodies

Carlos Antonio López Railway

Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción

Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theater

• Old town: Most of the historic buildings and mansions are located in the center, which extends parallel to the bay, between Plaza Uruguaya and the port.[79]

• Asunción Bay: On its coast, two cannons used during the War of the Triple Alliance are stationed. Furthermore, at the back of the Palacio de los López there is a viewpoint from which you can observe, on one hand, the skyline of the city, and on the other, the nature that surrounds the bay. There are also picturesque boats that leave every day from the "Port and Beach Montevideo", which are destined for the town of Nueva Asunción, where you have an impressive view of Asunción.

• Palacio de los López: Its construction began at the end of 1860s. When it's observed from above, it resembles a "U" shape. Its main façade is treated with imposing superimposed galleries that overlook the Asunción Bay. It has a large tower in the shape of a cube, topped with four turrets. The bombing of the Brazilian squadron shot down one of them during the War of the Triple Alliance. The palace was built to be the residence of President Mariscal Francisco Solano López, who never occupied it. Today it is the headquarters of the Executive Branch.

• Casa de la Independencia Museum: It was built in 1772. This was the property of the brothers Pedro Pablo and Sebastián Antonio Martínez Sáenz; they gave it up for the secret meetings that led to the Independence Revolution of May 14 and 15 of 1811. This house treasures pieces of incalculable historical value.[80]

• Municipal Theatre Ignacio A. Pane: The construction of the National Theatre began in 1886 and culminated in 1889. In 1939 it became the Municipal Theater. The restoration work began in 1997 and then was reopened in 2006. This theater presents an extensive cultural program throughout the year (theaters, concerts, ballet, etc.).[81]

• National Pantheon of the Heroes: The construction of the chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, Patroness of Asunción and Marshal of its armies began in 1863 by order of Marshal Francisco Solano López.[82] It was inaugurated in 1936, depositing there the remains of Marshal López and other heroes of the country, thus becoming the Pantheon of Heroes.

• Cabildo Museum: Neoclassical style building. This was the first major public work of the 19th century, built under the government of Carlos Antonio López.[83] For many decades it was the seat of the Legislative Branch. Since May 2004 it has housed one of the most important museums in Paraguay. It has five rooms, a library, a conference room and a multipurpose room.

• Asunción Metropolitan Cathedral: It was the first diocese of the Río de la Plata. It was built by order of Carlos Antonio López and inaugurated in 1845. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It has a main altar covered in silver.[84]

• Church of the Incarnation: The foundation stone of the new Temple of the Incarnation was laid in 1893, after a raging fire completely destroyed the old church located on Loma Cabará.[85] It features renaissance architecture and is one of the largest temples in Asunción.

• Carlos Antonio López Railway: This railway station and the railway line were inaugurated in 1861. Paraguay was one of the first countries in South America with a railway for passenger transport. It was built during the government of Carlos Antonio López; you can see the "Sapukái" locomotive, one of the first ones in the Río de la Plata region. Currently, it is a historical museum with representative samples of the railway history of Paraguay; it no longer functions as a train station.

• Church of the Holy Trinity: It was built in 1854, under the order of President Carlos Antonio López. The Italian Alejandro Ravizza was in charge of its design and construction. The building has a beautiful façade and classical paintings on the ceiling.[86]

• Antequera Staircase: The monument was erected in tribute to the Communards. Taking advantage of the slopes of the hill, the staircase that goes down to Antequera Street was built by the then municipal intendant Miguel Ángel Alfaro. At the top of the column was placed the sculpture called Victory, by the Italian sculptor Luis Perlotti. The monument and the staircase were built under the direction of the architect Alfaro, by the Italian builder Carlos Pozzi and was inaugurated on 15 August 1928, when the presidential Assumption of Doctor José Patricio Guggiari was celebrated.[87]

• Costanera de Asunción: Oriented towards healthy recreation, it's actually an endowed place destined for family space, meeting friends, observing beautiful sunsets, and delighting in the city's landscape.[88] For walking tours, people can rent bicycles, go-karts, roller skates, etc. A linear park will also take place.[89]

• Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asunción: It is one of the main green lungs of the city since it has more than 110 hectares (270 acres) of natural forest. The zoo is home to almost seventy species of wild animals including birds, mammals, and reptiles. Most of them represent South American fauna.[90]

• Bicentennial Astronomical Center: There are three rooms that have various topics. The first one is a multimedia room with a giant screen where you can watch scientific films. In the second room there is a planetarium, where visitors can observe a recreation of the constellations. The third room consists of Internet-connected computers and an up-to-date science and astronomy library, where visitors can conduct researches.[91]

Asunción also cooperates with:[125][126][127][128][129][130]

• Mar del Plata, Argentina
• Viña del Mar, Chile
• Brussels, Belgium
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Lyon, France
• Lisbon, Portugal
• European Union