Fernando de la Mora

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Fernando de la Mora is the city of the district with the same name, part of the Central Department. It borders on the cities Luque and San Lorenzo to the North, on Villa Elisa to the South, on San Lorenzo and Ñemby to the East and on Asunción to the West. It is part of the Metropolitan area of Asunción.

Today is one of the most important cities in the country, with a population of 200,000 habitants and yet is far from being an overpopulated city. It used to be part of the San Lorenzo.

It is a city that takes very good care of the natural spaces and tries to respect and apply all the laws in defense of the environment.

The city is divided in two regions: the South area and the North area, with a total surface of 21 square kilometers. It is crossed from North to South by a many paved streets and avenues, such as Zavala Cue, Pitiantuta, 10 de Julio, Las Residentas, among others.

It has a total number of 62 green spaces.

It has a sports center well equipped, a football court for national and international games, 20 public schools and about 30 private schools. Among the public schools it’s important to name “Dr. Fernando de la Mora” National E.M.D. School; this school has about 3,000 students that assist at morning afternoon or night classes. Currently is the biggest school in the city and it counts with its own sports center. Other school worth mentioning is the “Dr. Eligio Ayala” School of Infirmary that provides elementary, basic, and superior and diversify education.

The current Mayor is Anibal Rolando Franco Gómez, third member of the family that accomplishes to take the position.

The city used to be called Zavala Cue. Today takes the names after Fernando de la Mora, in honor of one of the fathers of Paraguayan independence from Spain.

Fernando de la Mora was born in Tapuá, a establishment that today is part of the city of Limpio, in the year 1785, he was son of Fernando Antonio de la Mora and Ana María Cazal. He had an important participation in the defense of the capital of the Viceroyalty of River Plate against the invasions of the British in 1806 and 1807. He was elected Secretary of the Government Board presided by Fulgencio Yegros.

In 1820 he was arrested for order of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia during his government. He died in jail.

Demography
This city has a population that is 100% urban. It has 162,652 habitants in total, 77,609 men and 85,042 women, according to information provided by the General Direction of Polls, Statistics and Census.

Climate
The climate is hot with a temperature that reaches 40º C in summer and that in winter drops to 0º C. The annual average is 22º C.

History
Fernando de la Mora used to be part of the district of San Lorenzo del Campo Grande and its population dedicated mostly to the farming activity. By then, it was called Zavala Cué and there were plantations of vegetables and fruit trees, as well as breeding of farm animals. This activity was oriented to satisfy the necessities of Asunción.

It was called Zavala Cué because in the area was settled an important state belonging a family of last name Zavala. This establishment was part of a group of 10 great states in the area.

The population of Zavala Cué kept growing and the authorities of San Lorenzo did not manifest interest in supporting the development of the city, which made the population very unhappy, so they decided to transform it into a competitive and progressive city.

Then, thanks to the neighbors’ organization an independent municipality was created. The request was granted in 1939 by the government of Félix Paiva, on February 28. Since 1950, Fernando de la Mora is an independent district of the Central Department, which now has 18 districts. This city is today called “The city of the new millennia”.

Economy
This city has an intense commercial activity; practically nothing is left of the old community that dedicated to farming activity. Today there are many small and medium industries, especially those that work in the metallurgic and chemical sector.

It is a “dormitory town” because most of the population live there but work in Asunción.

Transportation
There are several means of transportation in the city that, because is near Asunción, serve as a way of access from other cities. This causes a heavy traffic in the main streets of the city, such as Route Mariscal Estigarribia and the Mariscal López Avenue.


Art and Culture
Fernando de la Mora has a modern Municipal Theatre located in the center of the city. This important cultural center is place for numerous events of art in Paraguay. The Municipality of Fernando de la Mora promotes the development of culture with classes of artistic education.

As part of the popular religion, this city celebrates the festivity in honor to the Miraculous Medal every September 27. Another special date is January 6, day of Saint Baltazar.

An historical museum is located in one of the oldest houses in the city, right next to the Municipality building. There are exhibit more than 1300 objects and 100 photographs of the War against the Triple Alliance and the Chaco War. The museum offers guided visits and historical texts specially elaborated for the students and other visitors.


Tourism
Fernando de la Mora has several places of touristic interest. Among them are the neighborhood “6 de Enero” in which are settled the descendants of the first population of African origin that arrived in Paraguay with Gervasio Artigas. This group of people settled in a neighborhood called Loma Campamento de Fernando de la Mora and until today they keep the traditions of their origins. A very interesting thing about then are the dances that clearly have a very distinctive African-American rhythm. These dances are performed in the annual festival organized every January 6 in honor to the Patron Saint Baltazar. This celebration is called the festivity of “Kamba Cuá”.


The most important religious center
"The Parish Church of the Miraculous Medal" After the foundation of the city Fernando de la Mora on July 19, 1942, started the history of the Parish Church of the Miraculous Medal.

This parish church is the result of the combined work of many people, among is Enrique José Veldman, first priest of the parish church, who destined the First Book of two hundred pages to the baptisms made, that book is still in the church, in the archive, preserved as a historical relic.

The first bell of the church was donated by Teodosia Vda. De Gómez, the images of the passion, ornaments, stations and the sacrarium were donated by the Florentín Peña family, who brought them from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they were sent to do diplomatic work.

A commission formed in 1938 was in charge of building the new temple twice as big as the previous one. Part of the first altar had to be knocked down to do the enlargement. This work was made by the architect Anderson Castorino. The constructions of a little parish school that still functions started in times of the administration of Priest Di Perna.


How to get to Fernando de la Mora
From Asunción, it is pretty easy to arrive to Fernando de la Mora. There are many means of public transportation that travel from one city to the other. It is 9 kilometers away from Asunción, that is, if traveling through Route No. 2 “Mariscal Estigarribia”.