Travel News

SOUTH AMERICA TOURS

Mission: Visit the Chiquitos Jesuit communities while touring Bolivia

Fans of the 1986 Robert DeNiro film "The Mission" will want to visit the Jesuit-founded Chiquitos settlements while on a Bolivia tour, but even those unfamiliar with the movie will likely find these sites fascinating.

As dramatized in the "The Mission," Jesuit Catholic missionaries arrived in South America in the 16th century to convert the local population. In Bolivia, that meant evangelizing to the Chiquitos tribe. Although conflict between the native civilizations and the missionaries was ongoing - eventually leading to the expulsion of the missionaries in 1767 - some of the Jesuits forged good relationships with the Chiquitos and created the six extraordinary "reducciones" that survive intact.

The missions' architecture and layout reflects the mixing of European and South American cultures. The churches - long, low, wooden structures with peaked roofs - are ornate and yet blend in with the surrounding residential structures. In addition to residential quarters, these towns featured workshops, schools and other municipal buildings such as almshouses.

Remarkably, these settlements - San Francisco Javier, Concepcion, Santa Ana, San Miguel, San Rafael and San Jose - have not been abandoned or fallen into ruin during the centuries since they were first built, but are still active communities that host an internationally recognized Baroque music festival every other year, reflecting the important role music played in forging the relationship between missionaries and the Chiquitos.

Posted: October 3, 2011

OTHER SOUTH AMERICA TOURS ARTICLES > Somber sights at the Wall of Tears Posted: May 21, 2012 > Accessible Juilaca Posted: May 16, 2012 > Explore pirate territory in Tagus Cove Posted: April 26, 2012 > Barter your way through Chinchero Market Posted: April 24, 2012 > Uncover the lost city of Choquequirao Posted: April 5, 2012 > Salty sights in Maras Posted: March 28, 2012 > Journey to the center of the earth in Quito Posted: March 27, 2012 > Step into the relics of Moray Posted: March 22, 2012 > The soft coral sands of Bachas Beach Posted: March 19, 2012 > The best of beaches in Garrapatero Posted: February 29, 2012 > The jungle city boomtown of Iquitos Posted: February 29, 2012 > Pristine penguins and eye-popping embellishments in Punta Arenas Posted: February 28, 2012 > Preserved Amazon at Napo Wildlife Center Posted: February 27, 2012 > Find happiness in Salvador Posted: February 7, 2012 > Variety is the spice of Bahuaja-Sonene National Park Posted: January 24, 2012 > Some of world’s deepest crevaces at Colca Canyon Posted: January 12, 2012 > Ecological divergence starts in Cuiba Posted: January 11, 2012 > Galapagos human history on San Cristobal Posted: January 9, 2012 > Metamorphic habitat in Oxbow Lake Posted: December 30, 2011 > Wildlife by air and sea on Wolf Island Posted: December 29, 2011 > Untouched spirituality in Santa Catalina Monastery Posted: December 28, 2011 > Guayaquil: Ecuador’s up-and-coming star Posted: December 28, 2011 > Harmonious brilliance in Brasilia Posted: December 23, 2011 > Terraces run into ruins in Pisac Posted: December 16, 2011 > Premier wine escapes in Mendoza Posted: December 12, 2011 > Rio’s majesty from quintessential Sugarloaf Posted: December 9, 2011 > Young and breathtaking Bartolome Island Posted: December 8, 2011 > See the arid side of the Galapagos Islands at Dragon Hill Posted: November 30, 2011 > Visit the Living Museum of Cusco Posted: November 30, 2011 > Take a cruise in El Chaltén Posted: November 29, 2011 > Intimate wildlife adventures in Santiago Island Posted: November 29, 2011 > Go big and go small on a Galapagos adventure Posted: November 11, 2011 > Enrich a Machu Picchu adventure by visiting secret spots Posted: November 9, 2011 > Venture to Pantanal for a South American safari Posted: November 9, 2011 > Redefine the meaning of deep south in Ushuaia Posted: November 2, 2011 > Mingle with Lima's artists in Barranco Posted: October 27, 2011 > Tour Peru's Amazon Rainforest around Puerto Maldonado Posted: October 21, 2011 > Gastronomical and glacial adventures in El Calafate Posted: October 18, 2011 > Travel to Brazil's Paris, the jungle city of Manaus Posted: October 6, 2011 > Tour Peru's grand canyon in Apurimac Posted: September 29, 2011 > Visit Triassic Park on an Argentina tour Posted: September 28, 2011 > Hike the tropical mountains of Peru Posted: August 23, 2011 > Visit the Cradle of American Civilization in Peru Posted: August 18, 2011 > Explore the history of Peru at the Museum of the Nation Posted: August 10, 2011 > Experience the world-famous ancient wonders of Machu Picchu, Peru Posted: July 28, 2011 > The impressive volcanic features of the Galapagos Islands Posted: July 21, 2011 > Explore Peru's Manu National Park Posted: June 29, 2011 > See the endearing Galapagos penguin during an island cruise Posted: June 23, 2011 > Explore the alien landscape of Salar de Uyuni Posted: June 21, 2011 > Explore the winding streets of Lima's historic center Posted: June 8, 2011 > See the mysterious Nazca Lines of Peru Posted: June 2, 2011 > Go diving among the underwater wonders of the Galapagos Posted: June 2, 2011 > Try pisco, the national drink of Peru Posted: May 23, 2011 > Contribute to scientific studies at the Charles Darwin Research Station Posted: May 20, 2011 > Delve into Incan history at Ollantaytambo Posted: May 10, 2011 > Explore the lost ruins of Machu Picchu Posted: May 4, 2011 > Experience the natural and cultural wonders of Lake Titicaca Posted: April 25, 2011 > Explore the southern wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National Park Posted: April 20, 2011 > Scale the peaks of Rio de Janeiro Posted: April 11, 2011

TRAVEL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD > African Safaris > Antarctica > Asia Tours > Australia Tours > Central American Tours > Egypt and Middle East Tours > European Tours > India Tours > North American Tours