San Rafael de Velasco or San Rafael is the seat of the
San Rafael Municipality in the
José Miguel de Velasco Province,
Santa Cruz Department
Santa Cruz () is the largest of the nine constituent departments of Bolivia, occupying about one-third (33.74%) of the country's territory. With an area of , it is slightly smaller than Japan or the US state of Montana. It is located in the e ...
,
Bolivia. It is part of the
Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos. In 1990 it was declared a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
.
UNESCO World Heritage: Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos
/ref>
History
In 1695, the mission of San José was founded by Jesuit missionaries Juan Bautista Zea and Francisco Hervás. The mission was relocated and rebuilt multiple times due to epidemics (in 1701 and again in 1705) and fires (in 1719). In 1750, the mission was rebuilt yet again.
Languages
The Tao (Yúnkarirsh) dialect of Chiquitano
The Chiquitano or Chiquitos are an indigenous people of Bolivia, with a small number also living in Brazil. The Chiquitano primarily live in the Chiquitania tropical savanna of Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia, with a small number also living in ...
was spoken in San Rafael.Chiquitano
The Chiquitano or Chiquitos are an indigenous people of Bolivia, with a small number also living in Brazil. The Chiquitano primarily live in the Chiquitania tropical savanna of Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia, with a small number also living in ...
, is spoken in San Rafael.
See also
* List of Jesuit sites
This list includes past and present buildings, facilities and institutions associated with the Society of Jesus. In each country, sites are listed in chronological order of start of Jesuit association.
Nearly all these sites have bee ...
* List of the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos
References
External links
Map of José Miguel de Velasco Province
Populated places in Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)
Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos
Populated places established in 1695
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