Historical & Cultural Landmarks in South America

The Jesuit Missions of Paraguay hold a significant place in South America's cultural and religious history. La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue are part of a series of 30 missions in the Río de la Plata basin established by the Society of Jesus during the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos are located in the Santa Cruz Department in eastern Bolivia. Distinguished by a unique fusion of European and Amerindian cultural influences, the Jesuits founded the missions to convert local Chiquitano tribes to Christianity.

The ruins of São Miguel das Missões in Brazil and those of San Ignacio Miní, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa María la Mayor in Argentina lie at the heart of a tropical forest. They are the remains of five Jesuit missions, built in the land of the Guaranis during the 17th and 18th centuries.

La Moneda Palace in Santiago, Chile, also known as Palacio de la Moneda, is an iconic symbol of Chilean history, politics, and resilience. Originally constructed as a colonial mint house in the late 18th century, the palace has witnessed significant historical events, including the transformation of its role from a coin-producing facility into the seat of political power.

León Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, is a significantly important and historic landmark in León, Nicaragua. It is the largest Cathedral in Central America and one of the best-known in the Americas due to its distinct architecture and particular cultural importance.

The "Block of Enlightenment," also known as Manzana de las Luces, houses the Saint Ignacio Church and adjacent College, which the Jesuits constructed during the late 17th century. Situated in the Monserrat neighborhood, this area boasts several significant historical and public buildings in Buenos Aires.

The Nazca Lines are a group of very large geoglyphs formed by depressions or shallow incisions made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru between 500 BC and 500 AD. The site is one of the most impressive-looking archaeological areas in the world.

The Pampulha Modern Ensemble was the center of a visionary garden city project created in 1940 in Belo Horizonte. Designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer around an artificial lake, this cultural and leisure center included a casino, a ballroom, the Golf Yacht Club and the São Francisco de Assis church.

The Pan-American Highway and the Inter-American Highway are intertwined road networks connecting the American continents. While they share similarities, they also have distinct characteristics and purposes. Their completion encounters a significant obstacle known as the Darién Gap.

Paramaribo, situated on the banks of the Suriname River, is Suriname's capital and largest city. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its urban center, with roots dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, is evidence of its colonial past as a former Dutch settlement and multicultural present.