Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (), is a city in Paraguay. Located in the middle of the Oriental Region of the Paraguayan territory, it is the capital of the Guairá Department. It was founded by the Spanish Captain Ruy Diaz de Melgarejo on May 14, 1570. Villarrica has many places that honor the Paraguayan culture, such as the monument to the memory of Manuel Ortiz Guerrero, honorary citizen of the city. About this city Bacón Duarte Prado (journalist and musician) wrote: Villarrica is the city of the eternal youth, born from the waters of the Ycuá Pytá and the breeze that comes from the hills. Founded by the Spanish Ruy Diaz de Melgarejo, 350 km east from the Saltos del Guaira, on May 14, 1570, with the name Villa Rica del Espíritu Santo (Villa Rica of the Holy Spirit), finally settled in 1682 in the hills near the Ybytyruzu, part of the Caaguazú Cordillera, 180 m above ocean level. The city is located near the Ybyturuzú, part of the Caaguazú mountain chain. The land is elevated, rough and wooded, appropriate for the cultivating sugar cane, trees for wood and for raising cattle. History In the 16th century, Ruy Díaz de Melgarejo left Ciudad Real with 40 men and 53 horses to the East, where they expected to find mines of gold and silver. After arriving in the lands of Cacique (Chief) Cuaracyberá, he founded a new town on May 14, 1570, and named it Villa Rica del Espíritu Santo, because of the belief that there was abundant gold and silver in the area, and because the timing was near the religious festival Espíritu Santo. Due to constant invasions by Paulist Bandeirantes, the city had to be moved seven times before settling in one place. For this reason it received the name of “Wandering city”. In 1592, Ruy Díaz de Guzman moved the city 100 km east. In 1599, he moved it again, this time near the Mboteitei River, 100 leagues from Asunción. After long years of peaceful existence, the city was invaded in 1632 by the Mamelucos, and after 4 years of pilgrimage the population settled in the nearby Mbaracayú. Two years later, the Governor Valderrama determined to situate it in the fields of Yarú. In 1642, the population migrated again to Curuguaty. In 1678, the population settled close to the Tobatyry River, a place called “Espinillo”, but the soil was