Sao Miguel das MissoesThe Mission of Sao Miguel it was also known as Sao Miguel Arcanjo in Portuguese and by its Spanish name San Miguel. This is the most preserved site in the Brazilian territory, in the northwestern Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil. It was part of the seven settlements on the old Portuguese Empire (today Brazil). San Miguel (in Spanish). Here also the natives and the Jesuits left the mission. The mission was a refuge for the natives against the slave traders and a way to catechise the Guarani native.
In 1932 it was the pick of the missions with more than a hundred and thirty-two thousands natives living in more than 30 missions on the river plate system area. The Jesuits were very skilful to run the fields and raise the cattle. San Miguel mission was very important for cattle raising.
In the church, it was used also the Baroque architecture and was similar to the churches built in Europe. San Miguel church was built from 1735 to 1750. It´s splendour and beauty used to seduce natives and people that visited it. It was the most beautiful building in that area. The church and it is magnificent architecture was ahead of the time in that remote area. The construction of the church was the apogee of the missions.
In 1750 Portugal and Spain sign a treaty swapping the lands where now a day is Uruguay to the land where the mission of San Miguel and another 6 missions were located.
The Madrid treated in 1750 was dividing the land between Portuguese and Spain. In the area where is Brazil today was in the hands of Spain and became Portuguese owned. According to the Madrid treaty all Jesuit Missions under Spanish Crow needs to be removed from the area.
People don´t want to leave. In Autumn of 1756, the Spanish and Portuguese destroyed 7 mission settlements during the Guarani War.
See also: Jesuit Missions in Argentina