Jesuit Ruins of San José

The Ruins of San José are the remains of a mission established by the Priests of the Campaign of Jesus to provide shelter for the region's indigenous people.

Towards the end of the 18th century, a farm, a church, a cloister, and houses operated on this site. There was also a mill, a brick kiln, carpentry and blacksmith workshops, and a small sugarcane field.

The Jesuits founded the first school there and cultivated sugarcane for the first time, making the province the cradle of the sugar industry. When they were expelled in 1767, the church was built with brick walls and a vaulted roof covered with wood and tiles.

The building was reconstructed by the Dominican friars, who had owned part of the ranch since 1781. In 1882, a major renovation was done, giving the site its present look. This building served as a school until 1935, then was abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair.

In 1944, it was declared a "National Historic Monument," and in the early 1970s, the reconstruction process began with a series of repairs to the nave, roof, floors, and the cistern located in the courtyard.

The altar and the images of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Joseph of Santiago del Estero were restored. The bell and a Papal cross were brought from La Rioja.