Villeta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Villeta
native_name =

---

image_shield =Coat_of_arms_of_Paraguay.svg


mapsize = 200px
map_caption =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Paraguay
subdivision_type1 = Department
subdivision_name1 = Central
leader_title = Intendente Municipal
leader_name = Carlos Hugo Rojas Fernández (ANR)
established_title = Founded
established_date = March 5th 1714
area_total_km2 = 888
area_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2008
population_total =36,228
population_density_km2 = 25
timezone = -4 Gmt
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
latd=25 |latm=30 |lats=36 |latNS=S
longd=57|longm= 33|longs=36 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 55
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 2680
area_code = (595) (225)
website =

Villeta is a city of Paraguay, in the Central Department, in the banks of Paraguay River. It is an important industrial center and port.

Toponymy

The city was founded on March 5th 1714, by Juan Gregorio Bazán de Pedraza, with the name of San Felipe de Borbón del Valle del Bastán in the fields of Guarnipitán, as a homage to the King Felipe II. Was renamed Villeta, because of its resemblance to a great Villa.

Villeta's Port

The port is administereded by the Navigation and Ports National Administration (ANNP), and is specially equipped for the handling of heavy machinery. Many different kinds of merchandise are traded in this port.

Characteristics:

* Villeta port terminal: 35 kilometers south from Asunción
* Area: 13,5 hectares
* Pier: 435 meters
* Platform: 25 meters
* Depth: minimum 10 feet, 365 days a year
* Facilities: 6 hectares of beaches, paved roads
* Covered warehouse: 0,3 hectares (100 X 30 meters)
* Free zone: Bolivian governed, for merchandise in transit

Climate

The temperature in summer reaches 40°C, in some occasions, even higher. The minimum in winter is 0°C. The average in the entire Central Department is 22°C. The city is located in one of the departments with most rainfall during the months from January to April; and the least during the months from June to August.

Demography

The total population is 36.228 habitants, 18.362 are men and 17.866 are women, according to the data of the General Direction of Statistics, Polls and Census office.

History

It was founded in 1714 by the Governor Juan Gregorio Bazán de Pedraza with the name of San Felipe Bordón in the valley of Bastán, in the fields of Guarnipitán. During the government of Dr. Francia, the city became an important channel of communication with other countries, making possible the economical development of the district.

Economy

Until 1930, the city was famous because of the use of the port, mostly, for the exportation of oranges. These days the port has multiple purposes.

In this locality operate 19 big factories that produce: cement, iron rods, cotton, electric cables, and highly toxic environmentally contaminating industrial chemicals, among others. It has a port in the banks of the Paraguay River and from this port most of the national products for exportation are shipped.

The main processing plant of the National Cement Industry is located in Villeta.

Tourism

There are several antique constructions in the city, the Church of the Virgen del Rosario, that was built in times of the War against the Triple Alliance and also served as a Hospital, is one of these constructions. In the architecture of the church can be appreciated the distinctive characteristics of 19th century art, especially in the murals painted by Adán Kunos.

Fishing can be enjoyed in Guyrati, Angostura e Itaipiru.

Personalities

Villeta is the hometown of some great Paraguayan writers, such as:

* Rubén Bareiro Saguier
* Susy Delgado
* Ricardo Medina
* Ignacio Sanchez

How to get to Villeta

Villeta is 34 kilometers from Asunción; the way of access is by taking the Southern Access Route, and later taking another route, properly signalled, that leads straight to the city.

References

* Geografía del Paraguay - Editorial Hispana Paraguay S.R.L.- 1a. Edición 1999 - Asunción Paraguay
* Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay - ISBN 99925-68-04-06 - Distribuidora Arami S.R.L.
* La Magia de nuestra tierra. Fundación en Alianza. Asunción. 2007.
* EVP - Wikipedia
* [http://www.evp.edu.py/index.php?title=Portada Enciclopedia Virtual Paraguaya - Portal]

External links

* [http://www.senatur.gov.py/index.php?language=2 Secretaria Nacional de Turismo]