São Miguel Das Missões: Mission Heritage and Tava

São Miguel Das Missões brings mission heritage to life through archaeological remains, while also offering insight into the meanings that the Guarani-Mbyá associate with the historic site. The main body of the church, the bell tower and the sacristy are among the remains of the Guarani Jesuit missions. Tava, Tava Miri and Manancial Missioneiro introduce further cultural themes. This gives you different ways to explore the area through architectural history, Indigenous tradition and regional culture.

Architecture and historical recognition

The Sítio Histórico São Miguel Arcanjo includes parts of the remains of the former Jesuit Guarani reduction. The archaeological remains include the main body of the church, the bell tower and the sacristy. This directs attention to several elements of the historic ensemble, rather than just one building. In 1938, IPHAN declared the site a National Historical and Artistic Heritage Site, and in 1983 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The two dates put these designations in chronological context: the national declaration was followed by World Heritage listing. Anyone interested in historic sites can also view the remains in the context of their status as a heritage and World Heritage site.

Tava and the Guarani-Mbyá perspective

For the Guarani-Mbyá, Tava is an intangible cultural heritage. They associate meanings with the historic site and the remains of the former reduction in the municipality of São Miguel das Missões. Tava Miri, the sacred stone settlement, is a place where the Guarani-Mbyá say their ancestors lived. These connections add cultural meanings and memories to the archaeological perspective. Different questions can be considered side by side: What can be learned from the architectural remains, and what does the historic site mean from the Guarani-Mbyá perspective? Keeping these two aspects distinct makes it possible to understand the history of the place in a nuanced way.

Cultural forms and local tradition

The Sítio Histórico São Miguel Arcanjo is home to the only original Cruz Missioneira from this period. The Espetáculo Som e Luz was created in 1978 and is also part of the site’s cultural history. Manancial Missioneiro offers another perspective, with objects from the period of the Seven Peoples of the Missions on display. There, Valter Braga performs the Ritual da Erva Mate on request. It is a reinterpretation of ancient purification rituals, in which yerba mate is burned. The requirement to request the ritual in advance is important for planning: if it is relevant to your trip, ask about it beforehand. This lets you explore the displayed objects and the distinctive ritual as separate cultural themes.

Getting there and choosing a focus for your trip

For travellers arriving by car, the BR-285 is the main route into São Miguel das Missões. It connects the town with municipalities in the Região das Missões and other roads in the state. As road conditions and routes can change, check the current route before setting off. If you are looking for a holiday rental, having a clear focus for your trip can help with planning: are you most interested in the archaeological remains, the Guarani-Mbyá perspective on Tava, or the objects and ritual at Manancial Missioneiro? You can then shape the rest of your plans around the themes that interest you most, and plan your journey by car separately.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Marcelino Ramos, Getúlio Vargas, Maçambara, Xangri-Lá, Morro Redondo, Itaqui, Uruguaiana, Floriano Peixoto

Back to the main travel guide: Rio Grande Do Sul.