Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos
In the 17th century, Jesuit priests settled in the Chiquitania region of Santa Cruz and constructed remarkable missionary villages based on the utopian ideals that were popular at the time in Europe. They attracted and converted a large local following, and the constructions, particularly the churches, took on a unique mestizo architectural style. After the Spanish expelled the Jesuits from their colonies, their sites all over the continent fell into ruin, but here, six survived and have been restored and nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are also the venue of an international festival of Baroque and Renaissance music. Ask about tours to the area in agencies in the city.
