Itatí

Itatí is a small river town whose skyline is dominated by a basilica out of all proportion to it: a domed church completed in the 1950s with capacity for many thousands, built to receive the pilgrims who come for the Virgin of Itatí, a small wooden image carved in the sixteenth century and venerated across the northeast and into Paraguay. The dome rises more than eighty metres and can be climbed for views over the Paraná, and the interior is airy and bright, with the image displayed above the altar. The main pilgrimage falls on 16 July, when the town fills far beyond its size, with people arriving on foot over days, and processions and open-air masses run through the day and night.

What you actually see

• The basilica - the enormous domed church and its bright interior.
• The image of the Virgin - the small carved figure above the high altar.
• The dome climb - views over the town and the wide Paraná.
• The July pilgrimage - processions and crowds on and around 16 July.

When to go

April to October for bearable heat. Mid-July for the pilgrimage, if crowds are acceptable; at that time accommodation across the region fills and roads are busy. Ordinary days are quiet, with the church open through the day.

Honest expectations

Outside pilgrimage dates the town is very quiet with limited services. The basilica is modern and monumental rather than historic, which surprises visitors expecting a colonial church. Summer heat and humidity are severe.

Nearby

Corrientes city lies west; the RN12 continues east toward Misiones.