However, the number of visitors is on the rise and those who visit the Paraguayan capital will discover an authentic Latin American city which has managed to keep a quiet atmosphere and preserves interesting sights and monuments of its rich history and colonial past. Many landmarks and historical buildings in the old city centre have recovered their past splendour thanks to Paraguay's bicentennial independence celebrations that took place during and demanded a lot of restoration works throughout the city.
Around the city tree-lined avenues, small parks and shady squares break up the rigid grid system of streets in the downtown area. From July to September the whole city is drenched in colour with the prolific pink and yellow bloom of lapacho trees, which grow everywhere.
The city centre is an old testament to 19th century historic ideals, with names reflecting local heroes and battles. During the Chaco War against Bolivia of many buildings in the city were improvised as hospitals and military barracks. When visiting the city a mix of three different architectural styles will be present: colonial style present in the oldest houses and buildings of the city centre ; italianate public buildings and manors with beautiful gardens and modern Latin American architecture including a large shopping malls next to residential houses.
The majority of visitors are businessmen of neighboring Latin American countries and day trippers from Argentina. They come to enjoy low prices on practically all goods and services from restaurant meals to electronics and even car tyres. That means hot weather especially in the South American summer winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, the weather changes frequently from one week to another. When the sun shines you bake and it can be very dry when the rains hold off for just a few days.
Rains can be heavy and make the temperature drop precipitously. Then the clouds build and it becomes cold. English is not widely spoken outside of hotels and tour operators so without some basic Spanish phrases it might be hard to get by. Public transportation, street signs and all road signalization are in Spanish. Business people and the younger generations have some knowlegde of English.
