Ypacaraí, known as the city of folklore, is also home to a sanctuary that serves as a mirror of Catholicism. Only 44 kilometres from Asunción, Ypacaraí is known as a refuge for those seeking warmth, tranquillity, and tourism. This city holds within its lands a place that seems drawn from a dream. It is a space of prayer that embodies every possible adjective for beauty, peace, and devotion: the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
In the midst of an immense estate stands the Church belonging to the Heralds of the Gospel. A visual and artistic representation of what was once the Roman religion, inherited by Paraguayans after the Spanish conquest. Its medieval architecture rises with elegance among gardens and pathways. While the Virgin of Good Counsel, dressed entirely in white, stands at the centre of the courtyard. The courtyard is flanked by two complexes. To the left lies the residence of the clerics, brothers, and priests. While to the right rises the Gothic church that evokes how temples might have appeared during the Middle Ages.
The legend behind The Virgin of Good Counsel
The history behind this Marian devotion dates back to 1467, during a festivity in Genazzano, Italy. On that day, a luminous cloud appeared in the sky accompanied by angelic music. The bells began to ring on their own and, when the cloud dissipated, it revealed an image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus.
The painting came from Scutari, Albania, where it had been venerated as Our Lady of Good Services. After the death of the leader Skanderbeg and the imminent Ottoman invasion, the painted image miraculously detached itself from the wall. It then travelled towards Italy. Two soldiers followed it until they lost sight of it near Rome.
The image eventually reached Genazzano, fulfilling the dream of Petruccia of Nocera. She had given away her entire fortune to rebuild the Church of Good Counsel, hoping the Virgin would one day manifest herself there. The fresco remained suspended without any form of support and has since been venerated as the Mother of Good Counsel.
That miraculous spirit still seems to float through the atmosphere of the Paraguayan sanctuary: children’s hymns, celestial choirs, prayers, the devotion of the brothers, the pilgrimage of the Virgin of Fátima. Everything contributes to an atmosphere that feels profoundly welcoming.
A vision of heaven in construction
Upon entering the church, one can see two towers guarding the entrance. Yet on crossing the main hall, it is the colour blue that dominates, like a clear sky upon which golden ornaments rest, further beautifying the space. The columns, also tinged with blue, support green windows and red arches, decorated with golden stars and the emblem of the Heralds.
The marble floor gleams, and the paintings adorning the interior evoke classical works from past centuries. The sensation is that of a journey through time, a tranquillity that envelops and softens. The intention behind this church, in construction for 10 years, is to recreate how Heaven would appear according to Roman Catholic tradition, based on biblical descriptions and religious texts.
To the right of the great hall lies the oratory dedicated to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, known as the “celestial room”. Entirely built of marble, the space is dressed in shades of green and red leaning towards burgundy. To one side of the tabernacle, made of pure gold, rest three principal chairs; on the opposite side, a statue of the Virgin of Fátima gazes serenely at whoever approaches.
The stained-glass windows bathe the entire space in soft, colourful light. The architecture is so splendid that it could uplift even the heart of a non-believer. That is the feeling of the place: a peace that seems genuine, almost tangible, as though it were truly a small piece of Heaven on Earth.
Visiting Lady of Good Counsel Church and Ypacaraí
The Lady of Good Counsel Church is easily accessible by car from Asunción, about a 50-minute drive along Route PY02. The church is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 to 15:00, welcoming pilgrims and tourists alike. Visitors can park at the estate and explore the gardens and pathways surrounding the church. While in Ypacaraí, travellers can also enjoy the town’s folklore, local crafts, and lakeside walks, especially around Lake Ypacaraí. Among the sites worth visiting are the old train station and the Shrine of the Virgin of Schoenstatt in Tuparendá, a replica of the German sanctuary. Cafés and small restaurants in the city offer traditional Paraguayan food, making it a perfect day trip that combines spirituality, culture, and natural beauty.
