Resources for Asuncion Events
www.asuguia.com Information on Asuncion with a complete day by day event guide.
The espectaculos section of newspapers Most print information about upcoming events only one or two days in advance (see Newspapers).
www.asunfarra.com.py Website dedicated to Asuncion nightlife with listings of nightclub theme nights and concerts.
Asuncion’s cultural centers Their websites have extensive calendars of events (see Cultural Activities).
107.7 Radio Concert FM / UniNorte’s (Universidad del Norte) Cultural Department The Universidad del Norte sponsors several cultural events throughout the year.
Indigenous in Asuncion
During the colonial period most of Asuncion’s indigenous inhabitants were Guarani Indians, though the city was continually under attack from the Guaycuru who lived across the bay in the Chaco. Today, the majority of indigenous seen in Asuncion are not, in fact, Guarani but Maka (belonging to the Mataco linguistic branch). The Maka played an important role during the Chaco War when they aided Russian emigre General Ivan Belaieff in mapping out the region. Traditionally, the Maka inhabited the province of Presidente Hayes in the central and southern Chaco, though most communities nowadays reside in the southernmost areas closest to Asuncion. The Maka are well known for their presence in high-traffic tourist areas (such as Calle Palma, the airport, and bus terminal) where they sell indigenous handicrafts – both their own and those of other indigenous communities. According to the 2002 National Indigenous Census, there are approximately 1,300 Maka remaining in Paraguay.
Neighborhoods
Downtown (El Centro)
Built on the banks of the Bay of Asuncion, the majority of the capital’s government offices and historic landmarks are downtown. The Microcentro area is bordered by Calle Colon (northwest), Calle Estados Unidos or EEUU (southeast) Avenida Ygatimi/Avenida Dr. Rodriguez de Francia (southwest) and the Paraguay River and Avenida Mariscal Lopez to the northeast. Though nightlife action has largely moved towards residential areas, the majority of Asuncion’s cultural events still take place in theaters and cultural centers downtown. (see Cultural Activities).
La Costanera
Unless you are in a tall building facing northeast, it is easy to forget that downtown Asuncion is built along the banks of the Paraguay River. The riverfront has traditionally been left to the city’s most marginalized populations whose shanty towns (known as banados ) have few amenities and suffer increasing difficulties when the water level rises. In 2010, the city commenced a project to redevelop the river front property and create a three kilometer long boardwalk (or costanera in Spanish) from the port of Asuncion to Avenida General Santos. The Costanera project is intended to capitalize on Asuncion’s prime riverfront location although it remains to be seen what will happen to the area’s current inhabitants.
Recoleta/Villa Morra
Located along the main avenues of San Martin, Republica Argentina, and Mariscal Lopez this area is easily accessible by buses heading both downtown and to the bus terminal. The majority of the residential area’s restaurants and hotels are located in and around Shopping Mariscal Lopez, Shopping Villa Morra, and Manzana T. Recoleta is also home to the city’s historic cemetery of the same
