• Visit the National Fine Arts Museum which holds 19th-century paintings and colonial works, the Visual Arts Museum, and the Andres Barbero Museum, which contains works of anthropological value. 

• Stop at Luque, near the capital, the home of the famous Paraguayan harps (website: www.paraguayanharps.com).

• Follow the popular ‘Central Circuit', a route of some 200km (125 miles) that takes in some of the country's most interesting sites clustered around the capital. Head for San Lorenzo, the site of the university halls of residence and an interesting gothic-style church.

• Enjoy the San Blas festival in February. Founded in 1539 by Domingo Martínez, it is Ita's main event. Follow the procession through the streets while eating traditional food. Its main craft speciality is handpainted black clay Gallinita hens.

• Conquer the foothills of the Cordillera de los Altos to explore the historic village of Paraguarí and its several old buildings in colonial style.

• Rent a bungalow in the holiday centre of Chololo, 87km (54 miles) from the capital.

• Purchase the Encaje-yú spindle lace, the ‘sixty-stripe' Paraní poncho and other handmade goods in Piribebuy (website: www.piribebuy.com), which was the scene of bloody fighting during the war of the triple alliance. It is also famous as a place of worship of the ‘Virgin of Miracles'.

• Relax in San Bernardino, a holiday resort situated on Lake Ypacarai, 47km (29 miles) from the capital. Owing to its beaches and lake shores, it'svery popular during the summer months. It also has a camping ground.

• Go fishing. International fishing contests are held near Asunción. The dorado can weigh up to 29kg (65Ib). Other smaller fish are peculiar to Paraguay, such as the surubí, manguruyus, armados and bagres.

• Visit one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Italpú Dam, the largest hydroelectric complex in the world.The water reservoir provides a unique ecosystem for wildlife and birds and provides tourists withactivities including fishing, watersports and walking tours.

• To the south, walk along the sleepy waterfront area of Encarnación. Nearby is the Roque González de Santa Cruz bridge linking Paraguay with Posadas in Argentina across the river Paraná.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.