Santa Maria: Plaza, Textile Art and Jesuit Heritage

Santa Maria combines a historic townscape with a vibrant textile tradition and traces of the Jesuit era. At its heart is Plaza Mariscal Estigarribia, alongside sacred art, a historic water source and an excursion destination nearby. This gives you different ways to shape your trip: town history, crafts, nature or a traditional pilgrimage.

The plaza as a green centerpiece

Plaza Mariscal Estigarribia follows the historic Jesuit town plan. Around the square are the church, the former Indigenous house, now a museum, and other buildings from the colonial period. The plaza covers just over one hectare and is completely shaded by lush native trees. Their vivid colors are especially striking in spring.

You can stroll around the plaza, enjoy nature and relax. The square thus connects its historic surroundings with a peaceful stay amid greenery. If you want to take in the architecture and town history, you will find both in the same townscape: the layout of the Jesuit settlement and buildings from different historical periods. The trees remain the defining feature as you take a break, especially when their colors emerge in spring.

Textiles that tell stories

At the Taller de la Hermandad, women artisans from Santa María de Fe keep alive a textile tradition that has continued for more than four decades. They embroider scraps of fabric with colorful figures depicting stories and scenes from rural Misiones. This craft brings materials and storytelling together in a distinctive way: scraps of fabric become images whose motifs evoke life in rural Misiones. For travelers interested in regional culture, this tradition offers a way to experience the town beyond its plaza and historic architecture.

Sacred art and traces of the Jesuit era

The Museo Diocesano in Santa Maria houses sacred artworks from the 17th and 18th centuries. The collection reflects the Jesuits’ influence on the Guaraní and offers a cultural link to the region’s history. The Jesuit era is also reflected in another place in the town’s history: Ykua Teja is a water source used by the Jesuits during the reductions in the 17th century. In 2021, a person responsible for Ykua Teja reported that local residents and tourists visited the site daily for recreation. This statement describes its use at the time.

Together, the artworks and the historical use of the water source offer two different insights into the Jesuit era: sacred objects from the 17th and 18th centuries on the one hand, and a place used by the Jesuits in the 17th century on the other. If culture and history are important factors in choosing your destination, these themes can provide another focus for your stay alongside the plaza’s townscape.

A pilgrimage nearby

Kurusu Cerro, about 15 kilometers from the town center, is another cultural and historical destination. A report from 2013 describes a pilgrimage to the summit, where a cross was venerated from Maundy Thursday onward. At the time, the report described the tradition as more than 70 years old and cited around 5,000 participants. The hill thus adds a religious tradition nearby to the town’s cultural attractions. The figures and timeframe given are those reported in 2013.

Santa Maria as a destination when looking for a holiday apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can choose Santa Maria based on what you want your stay to focus on: the historic plaza complex, embroidered textiles, sacred art and Jesuit history, or an excursion to Kurusu Cerro. The plaza combines the townscape with a chance to relax amid greenery; the textile tradition offers a different cultural perspective, while the pilgrimage provides an additional reason to visit nearby. This lets you choose a destination that suits your interests without reducing every experience to the same focus.

Discover more destinations: Villa Florida, San Ignacio

Go to the regional travel overview: Departamento Misiones.