Santa María la Mayor

Reducción de Santa María la Mayor (Reduction of Holy Maria Major), located in the Santa María Department of the Misiones Province, Argentina, at approximate coordinates 27°33′S 55°20′W / 27.550°S 55.333°W / -27.550; -55.333, was one of the missions or reductions founded in the 17th century by the Jesuits in the Americas during the Spanish colonial period. In 1984 it was one of four reduction sites in Argentina designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.^[1]

Location of the most important reductions, with present political divisions.

Jesuit Reductions

The Jesuit reduction of Santa María la Mayor was founded in 1626, and by 1744 it held a population of 993. It was abandoned after the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish colonies in 1767 after suppression of the order by the Spanish and Portuguese governments.

World Heritage Site

In 1984 the ruins of the reduction were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, together with three other reductions in the area of Argentina and one in Brazil, all formerly part of the Province of Paraguay during the colonial era.^[1] The ruins have been grown over by vegetation. They are not as well preserved as those of San Ignacio Miní, also in Misiones.

References

See also

• Jesuit Reductions

World Heritage Sites in Argentina Northwest Quebrada de Humahuaca Talampaya National Park Inca road system1 Mesopotamia Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis San Ignacio Miní Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana Nuestra Señora de Loreto Santa María la Mayor2 Iguazú National Park Cuyo Ischigualasto Provincial Park Inca road system1 Sierras Pampeanas Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba Patagonia Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas Los Glaciares National Park Valdés Peninsula 1 Shared with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru • 2 Shared with Brazil