Cultural life · Books and exhibitions

Juan de Salazar: books, exhibitions and cultural life in central Asunción

Sources checked 30 October 2026

The Centro Cultural de España en Asunción, still widely known as Juan de Salazar or the Juande, is worth keeping in your regular city routine. You can use it differently on different visits: borrow a book, see an exhibition, attend a discussion or check whether a workshop fits your interests. Its official website now lives at cceasuncion.aecid.es. Older search results still point to the former domain and outdated schedules.

For a first visit, choose one activity and confirm its room and time. The centre's calendar includes projects elsewhere in Paraguay, so an entry on its website does not necessarily mean the event takes place in the Herrera building.

Find the right entrance and the right schedule

The published address is Herrera 834, Asunción, with WhatsApp 0974 599 961 in the October 2026 programme. Use Herrera 834 on the map, rather than navigating simply to a street named Juan de Salazar. Ask which entrance serves your activity if an older listing says Tacuary.

There is a real conflict between the centre's own published hours:

The monthly programme also lists exhibition rooms Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00–21:00, with auditorium access tied to performances. These are published schedules, not an independently confirmed promise for your arrival date. For a library visit, Tuesday–Friday between 10:00 and 17:30 falls within both versions. For a Saturday visit, late pickup or café meal near closing, contact the centre first. A holiday or individual event can require a different arrangement.

Borrowing books rather than buying every title

The Las Sinsombrero library page lists reading-room use, home loans and research access. Joining for loans is free; request the form at biblioteca.ccejs@aecid.es. It also offers arranged collection outside regular hours with seven days' notice. Ask what identification and loan period apply before making a special journey.

That makes the library useful beyond a single sightseeing visit. If you are reading more in Spanish, working through an author or looking for cultural reference material, email with the title and author first. Establishing that the item can be borrowed is more useful than assuming everything on a shelf is available to take home. If you need a quiet workspace, ask about seating and laptop use; we have not verified Wi-Fi performance, plug availability or permission to make calls.

Exhibitions and the Josefina and Julián collection

The centre's museum page describes the collection associated with Josefina Plá and Julián de la Herrería, and a new conceptual and exhibition phase in 2026. It links a virtual visit. That renewal matters when planning: confirm which physical rooms are currently available instead of treating an older museum brochure as a guarantee of the display you will find.

Temporary exhibitions can be an easier first step if you do not want to commit to a course. Read the individual listing for its final date and location, then give yourself time to look without attaching the visit to a tightly scheduled appointment. For someone living nearby, a return visit after a new exhibition opens may be more rewarding than trying to cover the entire centre in one afternoon.

Reading groups, workshops and children’s programmes

The 2026 reading club is called Letras Iberoamericanas and publishes sessions from 16:00 to 19:00. Its dated programme includes 31 October and 28 November 2026. Use the dated listing rather than assuming an unchanged last-Saturday rule; ask about available places and reading preparation. Dates from this edition should not be carried into the next year.

For families, Salazarcitos 2026 is a free registered programme for ages 6–11, scheduled on Saturdays through 28 November. The page specifies a 30-participant limit, continuing attendance and confirmation of a place. It should not be treated as drop-in childcare. Contact the programme about current availability and any support a child needs.

Adults considering training should read the level and selection requirements. ACERCA includes professional cultural-sector development, so an attractive workshop title may describe a specialist course rather than an introductory activity. Do not arrange your week around a form submission until participation is confirmed.

Coffee, food and access needs

Café Jopara offers Paraguayan and Spanish food inside the centre. Food purchases should be budgeted separately from free cultural activities. No current menu prices or dependable vegan, gluten-free or allergen information were verified. Ask about ingredients and preparation rather than inferring suitability from a dish's name.

The centre describes recent work on physical and programme accessibility in its 2026 IMPAR announcement. That is encouraging, but it is not a detailed access audit. If step-free movement, accessible toilets, seating, interpretation or a lower-stimulation visit is important, specify the room and assistance you need before travelling.

For transport, compare a bus route's final walk with a direct drop-off at the confirmed entrance. No fixed ride price, parking availability or current bus number is promised here. Use the getting-around guide to plan the journey and return trip. If you are visiting mainly for borrowing, the Asunción library guide can help you compare other options.

The Juande works best when you use the current programme to choose something you actually want to return to. Start with a book, one exhibition or a confirmed session, and let the next visit follow from that.

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