History:
The town's first inhabitants date back to 1604, in a long strip of land stretching from Tapypery (now Fernando de la Mora) to the San Lorenzo stream. This ancient territory was then called Balsequillo. The earliest records of San Lorenzo begin there.
Chronicles report that the old Balsequillo had a “Laguna Parra,” whose present location would be about 100 meters from Mariscal Estigarribia Route, currently in the northern area of Fernando de la Mora.
Geography:
It is located in the Central Department, nine kilometers from the capital of the Republic. It is part of the urban area known as the Asunción Metropolitan Area or Greater Asunción. It borders Luque to the north, Ñemby to the south, Capiatá to the east, and Fernando de la Mora to the west.
Features:
Demographics:
It has approximately 257 530 inhabitants, making it the fourth most populous city in Paraguay. San Lorenzo is home to people from different departments of Paraguay. At the start of the day, approximately 850 000 people arrive, then leave at the end of the day. It is also known as a dormitory city, and over the last twenty years the number of people arriving mainly from rural areas has doubled.
Climate:
The climate is subtropical, with hot summers, pleasant autumns and springs, and cool winters. June is the coldest month and January the hottest. Rain is common during much of the year; only June and July are semi-dry, while the other months are rainy.
Economic development:
Its main economic activities are commerce in various sectors and manufacturing. Along Julia Miranda Cueto de Estigarribia and Mcal. Estigarribia avenues, there is a dense concentration of general appliance stores, pawn shops, supermarkets, furniture stores, district offices, among others.
The San Lorenzo market is one of Paraguay's largest and busiest markets. The main banks, financial institutions, and cooperatives are also located on these avenues and in the surrounding areas.
In 2012, two large shopping centers opened in the city, both with high-end stores, food courts, and movie theaters.
Tourism:
The city offers a variety of recreational and leisure spots, as well as tourist and historical attractions of interest to residents and visitors, such as:
- San Lorenzo Cathedral
- Guido Boggiani Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum
- Villa Universitaria
- Cycle path
- Capilla del Monte
- Barrio La Victoria
