Asunción
Asunción, population 500,938 (
1992), is the capital of
Paraguay. It is the principal port and chief industrial and cultural center of the country. Manufactures include
footwear,
textiles, and
tobacco products.
Asunción is one of the oldest cities in
South America. The site of the city may have been first visited by Juan de Ayolas, but the town, called
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Our Lady of the Assumption), was founded in
August 15,
1537, by Juan de Salazar and Gonzalo de Mendoza. In
1731 an uprising under José de Antequera y Castro was one of the first rebellions against
Spanish colonial rule. After the
War of the Triple Alliance (
1865-
70), Asunción was occupied by
Brazilian troops until
1876.
The city is home to the Godoi Museum, the Church of La Encarnación, and the Panteón Nacional, a smaller version of
Les Invalides in
Paris, where many of the nation's heroes are entombed.
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