CENTRO CULTURAL DE LA REPÚBLICA - EL CABILDO

This pale pink building with arcades is the first major work of the 19th century (1842-1857), launched by Carlos Antonio López. It was built on the site of the old cabildo. "Cabildo" is a colonial term that refers to the place where the city's affairs, both administrative and judicial, were dealt with. The Cabildo building has never had this function. It was originally the seat of the executive, until 1894, when it was moved to the Palacio de los López. Ten years later, the Cabildo welcomed the legislative power until 2003, when it was transferred to a new modern building located nearby, nicknamed "the flying saucer". Today, the Cabildo is a cultural centre and museum, with several thematic rooms and permanent or temporary exhibitions. His visit allows him to familiarize himself with the country's history, music (with a special section for the famous guitar composer Agustín Pío Barrios "Mangoré"), cinema, folk and indigenous art, sacred art, immigration and foreign communities living in Paraguay. Many cultural events are organised at the Cabildo: conferences, concerts, film screenings... From the back of the building, you can see the Chacarita district, a slum that is regularly flooded. This is in stark contrast to the institutions in the immediate vicinity, including the Presidential Palace and Congress..