The earliest well-defined Paraguayan art dates from colonial times when Jesuit and Franciscan missions established art schools. Examples of early art, now extant, in both baroque Spanish and Native American styles, include pediments adorned with figures of saints, pulpits, seats carved in stone, and magnificent wood-carved altarpieces. Among the greatest names in modern Paraguayan art are the painters Pablo Alborno and Juan Samudio. The most renowned Paraguayan craft is the production of the very delicate andut lace. The economy of Paraguay is primarily agricultural, but in the 1970s the manufacturing sector grew significantly.
Manufacturing is confined largely to agricultural and forestry products and to basic consumer goods.
Among the important products are packed meat and other foodstuffs, textiles, wood products, and chemicals. Paraguay is a middle-income nation with a developing economy. Tourist facilities are good in Asuncion, the capital city, poor in major cities, and almost nonexistent in remote areas. A passport is required. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays up to three months.