The central plaza is the true living room of Santaní. Shaded by large trees, it fills with vendors selling cold drinks, snacks, and fresh tortillas from late afternoon onward. Old men occupy the benches through most of the day; teenagers take over in the evenings. The space has the unhurried quality that is very particular to small Paraguayan market towns far from the main highways.
The plaza is flanked by the Municipalidad, a handful of shops, and the church, which gives the square its formal sense of structure. On weekends, motorcycle taxis cluster at the corners waiting for business, and the whole town seems to pass through at some point. If you want to understand how life in rural San Pedro actually works, sit here for an hour.