Asunción is the capital of Paraguay. The metropolitan area, named Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby and Villa Elisa.
It is the home of the national government and principal port and is the chief industrial and cultural center of the country. Local manufacturing production includes footwear, textiles and tobacco products. The main streets are paved, but only one or two blocks off the main arteries the streets are dirt or cobblestone. Downtown has many tall and modern buildings, although some date to the 1800s.