Asunción is the capital of Paraguay, the South American country bordered by Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River and is Paraguay’s political and cultural center.
Asunción was founded on 15 August 1537 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar de Espinosa. Its full traditional name, Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción, refers to the Assumption of Mary.
The city is sometimes confused with Ciudad del Este, Paraguay’s major commercial city near the Triple Frontier. Asunción is also part of a metropolitan area that includes municipalities such as San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, and Luque.