Santo Tomé - Jesuits reduction

Santo Tomé is located on the banks of the Uruguay River on national route No.14. The Jesuitical Reduction of Santo Tomé was founded in 1632, but the ravages caused by the small-poxpest and the attacks perpetrated by the bandeirantes forced the mission to move to the west bank of the Uruguay River. Its population numbered over 1,400 inhabitants and its classrooms housed more than 900 pupils. When the Jesuits were expelled in 1768, the town was razed by the Paulists (or bandeirantes). The remains of the mission were partially recovered and are exhibited in the "Pablo Argilaga"Regional Historical museum.

The Jesuits arrived in America in the 16th century and set out to preach the gospel to the natives. They founded towns based on an organization that still amazes the world. The Jesuitical Retductions introduced the Guaraní Indian to the practice of Christianity in a vast territory comprising the south of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Argentine litoral. The use of duly planned Indian labor enabled the creation of a firm economic base that gave rise to many conflicts over the possession of the native workers. This experience came to an end with the expulsion of the Jesuits from the country in 1768. The thirty towns they had created became disconnected with the organization of the different nation-states. Most of these towns were destroyed, but in our country one can still appreciate their magnificence in the ruins of the Reductions of San Ignacio, Loreto, Santa María and Santa Ana in the Province of Misiones and Yapeyú, Santo Tomé and San Carlos in the province of Corrientes. They were declared part of the World´s Historical Heritage by the UNESCO. In every case there are museums that harbor many remnants of these reductions that were gathered during the excavation work carried out in the area.