The Historic Center of Asunción and its historic buildings: The Pantheon of Heroes

The National Pantheon of Heroes and the Oratory of Our Lady Santa Maria of the Assumption, located in the heart of the microcenter of Asuncion, Paraguay, at the corner of Palma and Chile streets, are true symbols of the Paraguayan capital. Our Lady Santa Maria of the Assumption is the Patroness of Paraguay and the Marshal of its Armies.

This magnificent building, of immense artistic and cultural value, holds the title of National Historical Heritage and was selected as one of the Seven Treasures of the Material Cultural Heritage of Asuncion by the Capital American Organization of Culture in 2009. The order to build the oratory of the Virgin of the Assumption was issued in October 1863 under the presidency of Francisco Solano Lopez.

Designed by the Italian architect Alejandro Ravizza, its construction, which began in 1863, was interrupted by the War of the Triple Alliance and was not completed until 1936 when it was granted the status of National Pantheon of Heroes by presidential decree. This building houses the mortal remains of prominent heroes of Paraguayan history, including Marshal Francisco Solano Lopez. In Latin, on the façade of the pantheon, one can read the inscription "Fides et Patria," which means "Faith and Fatherland."

On the national roads, the Pantheon of Heroes marks the starting point from Asuncion to any location within the country or abroad, and its image is depicted on currently circulating legal currency coins with a denomination of 1,000 guaranies.