Historic centre of Pirenópolis

The historic centre is the starting point for any trip to Pirenópolis, a small colonial town in the state of Goiás, in central Brazil. According to the City Hall, this is where the gold-mining settlement of Minas de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Meia Ponte was founded in 1727. The gold rush ended, but the street layout and many of the old houses survived — and today the whole ensemble is protected as national heritage.

The best way to explore it is on foot, without a rigid plan. Below are the spots worth the walk.

What to see

Rua Direita and the colonial houses

Rua Direita is one of the oldest streets in town and is lined with colonial mansions, many of them still family homes. Take your time looking at the façades, windows and wooden doors: this ensemble is what makes Pirenópolis one of the most important heritage towns in central Brazil.

18th-century churches

Three old churches make up the religious circuit of the centre:

• the Mother Church of Our Lady of the Rosary (Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário), the oldest and most symbolic;
• the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo), home to the Museum of Sacred Art;
• the Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, up on the Bonfim hill.

Rua do Rosário, Rua Aurora and the “Rua do Lazer”

The town’s dining scene is concentrated on Rua do Rosário and Rua Aurora, an area known as Rua do Lazer (“Leisure Street”). It is quiet by day; at night, restaurants and bars spill out onto the pavements. See tips in where to eat in Pirenópolis.

Bridge over the Rio das Almas

According to the City Hall’s Tourism Portal, the current bridge was built in 1946 in the style of the old wooden one. Just below it there is a public river beach on the banks of the Rio das Almas, very popular on hot days. Next to the bridge is the Museu do Divino, in the old Casa de Câmara e Cadeia (former town council and jail).

Theatro de Pirenópolis and Cine Pireneus

The Theatro de Pirenópolis is a 19th-century building inside the protected area. Cine Pireneus was built in 1919 as a neoclassical theatre and remodelled in 1936 in Art Deco style to become a cinema, according to the Tourism Portal. Programming at both venues varies; check beforehand.

Feira das Artes

On Praça do Coreto (the bandstand square), the Feira das Artes (Arts Fair) brings together handicrafts, silver jewellery and sweets on weekends and public holidays, according to the City Hall’s Tourism Portal. It is a good place to discover local crafts — see also the shops and crafts section of the business directory.

How to fit it into your itinerary

In the 2-day itinerary, the centre takes up one afternoon and the evenings; the rest of the time goes to the waterfalls and the mountains.

A little history

The town was an important urban centre until the end of the 19th century. It then went through a period of relative isolation that helped preserve its old houses. In 1890 it changed its name from Meia Ponte to Pirenópolis, in honour of the Serra dos Pireneus mountain range. The first newspaper in Goiás, A Matutina Meiapontense (1830–1834), was also printed here. More details in history of Pirenópolis.

Before you go

Churches and museums have their own opening days and hours, and some charge a token entrance fee; checked prices are in Pirenópolis trip cost. On rainy days, the centre is the best alternative to the waterfalls — see Pirenópolis on rainy days.