Palacio de los Lopez

Across the street from the cultural centre is Palacio de los Lopez, a grand pink palace which is the seat of Paraguay's central government. It was built by order of Carlos Antonio López, the first Paraguayan head of state to hold the title of President, as set out in the constitution of 1844. The dictator envisioned a López dynasty and intended for the palace to house his son and designated successor, General Francisco Solano López, hence the palace's name. Ultimately, Solano López never resided there.

We took photos of the palace from the city side and then walked round to the riverside and took some more. On the way, I managed to fall my full length and damage my reading glasses again!

The riverside in Asuncion has a promenade known as the Costanera. It's a popular spot for a Sunday stroll and is used by the city's joggers and roller skaters every morning.

From the waterfront, we walked up to the newly built Palacio Legislativo. This building has not yet been commissioned. The older version just up the road is still in use. On the way, we passed a statue of General Francisco Solano López.Read more