# Jesuit Ruins of Misiones: San Ignacio, Santa Ana, Loreto and Santa María

> The four World Heritage missions: what each one has, how to combine them and the evening show at San Ignacio.

## Quick answer

With one day, do San Ignacio Miní, Santa Ana and Loreto: they are less than 30 km apart on route 12, an hour from Posadas. Santa María la Mayor is in the south and pairs well with Apóstoles.


## A bit of history

In the 17th and 18th centuries the Jesuits and the Guaraní founded some thirty towns, the reductions, in what is now Misiones, Paraguay and southern Brazil. Each grew to thousands of inhabitants, with workshops, music, printing presses and an architecture of their own: Guaraní Baroque. After the Jesuits were expelled in 1767, the towns emptied and the forest covered them.
The four Argentine missions, together with São Miguel das Missões in Brazil, make up the "Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis" World Heritage site.

## The four missions

- San Ignacio Miní: the most visited and best preserved, with the carved church portal, an interpretation centre and an evening show.
- Santa Ana: large and wild, with a monumental staircase and a cemetery among the trees.
- Loreto: covered by forest; one of the first printing presses in the region worked here.
- Santa María la Mayor: in the south, with a church that was never finished. The quietest.

## How to plan the visit

A combined ticket covers all four missions over several days. Leave Posadas early, start with Santa Ana and Loreto, have lunch in San Ignacio and keep San Ignacio Miní for the afternoon so you can stay for the sound and light show. Round off the day with Horacio Quiroga's house or the Teyú Cuaré rock.

## Frequently asked questions

**How long does San Ignacio Miní take?**

Two to three hours including the interpretation centre. If you stay for the evening show, add another hour.

**How far are the ruins from Posadas?**

San Ignacio is about 60 km from Posadas on national route 12; Santa Ana and Loreto are on the way. Santa María la Mayor is to the south, near Concepción de la Sierra.

**Is a guide worth it?**

Yes: guided tours (included or with local guides) explain how a mission town worked and make the visit much more interesting.

Full guide: https://misiones.com.ar/en/guides/jesuit-ruins-of-misiones/