A visit to Recoleta, Asuncion's cemetery

The Recoleta neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Asuncion and was started by the Franciscan Priests, who built their convent where the church is now.  In 1824, when Francia suppressed religious communities, the Franciscans had to leave the convent that would later be used as a cemetery. 


The following 3 photos are of the crypt of Eliza Lynch.  Eliza Lynch was Irish, but met the future president of Paraguay, Francisco Solano Lopez in France, where he was training with Napoleon's army.  They fell in love and he brought her back to Paraguay, one of the wealthiest South American nations at the time.   She and Lopez never married, but had 6 children together.  After the Paraguayan war, she was banned from Paraguay and died in France.  Over 100 years later, her body was moved back to Paraguay under the direction of Alfred Stroessner, who declared her a heroine.   There is a neighborhood her in Asuncion named after her and she is remembered fondly in history by most, although some believe she was the one who convinced Solano Lopez to begin the Paraguayan War.

This is another of Paraguay's past presidents

This is the final resting place of General Andres Rodrigues, who led a coup in 1989 that ended the over 30 year dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner. He had been one of Stroessner strongest supporters and surprised skeptics by restoring a free press, welcoming home exiles, and freeing political prisoners. Open presidential elections soon followed.