Why pilgrims come
Discover what makes Jesuit Mission Church of San Francisco Javier a place of pilgrimage
The first of the surviving Chiquitos mission towns, founded in 1696. Its restored timber church, carved columns, sacred art, music, and continuing Catholic community express a Chiquitano adaptation of the mission form rather than an untouched European transplant.
Begin the Chiquitos story at its earliest surviving mission town, where worship, Indigenous artistry, and restored architecture remain joined.
What to notice
Look closely at the place and its story
The first Chiquitos mission
Place the 1696 foundation within a much longer Indigenous history.
A living Catholic church
Let worship and community life frame the architecture.
How to read this page
Sources, tradition, and what is verified
The destination record was last checked on 8/31/2026.
This page records the site’s tradition as “Catholic.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.
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