The Churches of the Jesuit Guaraní and Chiquitos Missions: Rethinking the Architectural History of the Missions

A new architectural analysis of the Jesuit Guaraní and Chiquitos missions, including the UNESCO-listed Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos, reveals previously underappreciated influences on their design. The study challenges conventional narratives by identifying key elements that bridge European and Indigenous traditions, suggesting a more complex interplay between colonial and local building practices than previously recognized. Researchers employed a comparative method, examining surviving churches alongside historical documents and archaeological evidence to reconstruct their development over time. This rethinking of the missions' architectural history offers deeper insights into how these sites functioned as both religious centers and symbols of cultural exchange during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Kühne, E. (2025). The Churches of the Jesuit Guaraní and Chiquitos Missions: Rethinking the Architectural History of the Missions. The International Symposia on Jesuit Studies, 3(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.51238/isjs.2023.19