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REVIEW OF THINGS TO DO
Review of Jesuitic remains in San Cosme y Damian,
a thing to do in
San Cosme y Damian, Itapua
Date of experience: Jan 08 '07 Author: capelo |
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“Guarani and Jesuitic art in Paraguay” |
San Cosme and Damian was established in 1632 by Alonso Formoso a jesuit priest working in the Paraguayan Province.
The first astronomical observatory was established in this town from 1703 under Buenaventura Suarez, another jesuit priest. With the help of local artisans, Suarez built various astronomical instruments, including some Kepler-type refractors with lenses polished from local crystalline rocks; sundials; a quadrant with degrees divided into minutes; and a pendulum clock divided into minutes and seconds.
In 1743, the Jesuit Order provided him with telescopes and two Martirion clocks imported from England. For 13 years, Suarez accurately observed eclipses of Jupiter's satellites. He also observed eclipses of the sun and the Moon. He corresponded with other scientist from western Europe and made determinations of longitudes (as meridian differences) and latitudes of San Cosme y Damian and all other Jesuit towns.
In 1739, Buenaventura Suarez readied his calculations for his book "Lunario de un Siglo", a kind of astronomical calendar of one century containing the phases of the Moon, solar and lunar eclipses, church festivities and geographic coordinates of 70 cities. The first edition of "Lunario de un Siglo" was printed in 1743 and re-issued four times until 1856.
Suarez's life is an example of a self-made astronomer in colonial Paraguay able to apply rules for computations and build appropriate instruments. He obtained data from his own observations. He published this data in a book and wrote reports to other scientists around the world. Furthermore, he worked with natives as a missionary priest, and also worked as an artisan making bells.
Another attractions on site is the college which remains in pretty good condition as it was more than 300 years ago. There are several displays of wooden images in the church. Look especially those which represents Christ with indigenous face and the Saint Michael killing an hermaflodite dragon (in Guarani the devil is a femenine word).
You can also explore the Parana river, go fishing or enjoy a relax sunset by the beach. There are daily bus conections to Encarnacion and Asuncion.
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