Paraguay is a landlocked country with a friendly, peaceful population and a dynamic history, located in the heart of South America.

The country has a relaxed riverside capital, Asunción, impressive Jesuit Mission ruins, several national parks and the vast, arid Chaco - one of South America's great wilderness areas.

The Pantanal is one of the most immense, pristine and biologically rich environments on the planet. Often referred to as the world's largest freshwater wetland system, it extends through millions of hectares of central-western Brazil, eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay. The Pantanal stands as one of the world's great natural wonders.

Two international known Paraguayan personalities in music and literature are: Agustín Barrios Mangoré and Augusto Roa Bastos. The first one was a virtuous guitarist and an innovative composer. His music was forgotten or ignored for nearly two decades. In the last years, Barrios' recognition has been increasing steadily among the guitar community. Recent artists such as John Williams have brought his music back to life through their recordings.

Augusto Roa Bastos is the most eminent Paraguayan writer, laureated with the Cervantes Price of the Royal Academy of Spanish Language, a nobel-price-equivalent for the spanish speaking world. In his short stories and novels uses a rich, experimental language to create a vast, complex,and interrelated world. The depth of his analysis and the strength of his talent rank him among the best narrators of the Spanish America.

Preserving national identity in times of globalization is not an easy task. Two examples of Paraguayan identity are: the famous ñandutí or spiderweb lace, made since centuries in the weaving capital of Itaguá; and guaraní, an ancient indian language, the second official language of the country. In the fact, Paraguay was probably the first country in the world to recognize an original indian language as an official language. Guaraní was included in the educational system and received an important place in broadcasting media. Even the national constitution has a guaraní version.

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Agustín Barrios Mangoré
Augusto Roa Bastos
Guaraní
Pantanal
Universidad Nacional de Asunción