Pirenópolis

Pirenópolis, like other historic cities in 18th-century Goiás, was founded by Bandeirantes from Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Portugal. Exploration for gold in the Serra dos Pirineus region began in 1728, one year after exploration began around the city of Goiás. Soon, Manoel Rodrigues Tomás, associated with Bandeirate Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva (Anhanguera), founded some mines he called the Minas de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Meia-Ponte. With the production of gold, Pirenópolis became an important urban center, well known for its cotton production as well. It was the first center for goiana music, and had Goiana's most important newspaper during the 19th century.
When the gold ran out at the end of the 19th century, the city's population began to shrink. Many moved to the new capital at Goiânia, or to cities in the south of the state, like Jataí, Rio Verde, Itumbiara, and Catalão. With the construction of nearby Brasilia in 1960, the city again began to grow, and the government decided to turn the city into a tourist destination, preserving many old buildings and the historic center.

By plane

Pirenopolis is 107km from Goiania and 150km from Brasilia, the closest airports. Buses connect the city to those capitals and other neighboring cities.

By bus

• From Goiânia via Anápolis
• From Brasilia, Viação Goianésia, tel. +61 3233 7891, has direct lines to Pirenópolis, or other lines that make a stop in Ceres. The 3-hour trip costs R$13.

By car

• From Goiânia, take BR-060 to Anápolis, then BR-153 to Jaranápolis, and finally GO-431 into town.
• From Brasilia, take BR-070 to Cocalzinho, then the secondary highway to Pirenópolis via Corumbá de Goiás.

The town is best seen on foot. Wear good sturdy shoes, as the slave-built stone-lined streets can be a little rough.

• Abade Waterfall, (Cachoeira do Abade), with a 22-meter drop.
• Cavalhadas Museum (Museu das Cavalhadas), Rua Direita, nº 39. This museum focuses on the history of the cavalhadas festival, marking the historic struggle between Christians and Muslims.

• Babilônia FarmRodovia GO-431, km 3. Colonial-style farm where you can experience what 18th-century rural life was like.

• Pompeu Family Museum (Museu da Família Pompeu), Rua Nova, nº 33. Constructed in the 19th century, the building now houses a museum of the city's history. .
• Pirenópolis Theater (Teatro de Pirenópolis), Rua Comendador Joaquim Alves de Oliveira - Praça da Matriz. Constructed in 1899 and recently restored.
• Cine Pireneus - Rua Direita, s/nº. This movie-house was built in neo-classical style in 1929, then reworked in art deco style in 1936. It is being restored.
• Meeting Hall and Jail (Casa de Câmara e Cadeia), Rua Bernardo Sayão, s/nº. Constructed in 1919.

Churches

• Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Praça Manuel Jaime Lopes (Praça da Matriz). The oldest Catholic church in the state. It was built by African slaves in 1728 with funds gained through gold mining. In September 2002, it was partially destroyed by a fire. It has since been restored but the altar was lost. Another church, the Matriz dos Pretos, had fallen into ruins and nothing remained but the altar, so the church-less altar was united with the altar-less church here in 2005.
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Alto do Carmo. Constructed by slaves in 1750, this baroque church holds many works rescued from other churches which were demolished.
• Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, Rua do Bonfim, s/nº. Built by slaves between 1750 and 1755, it contains an image of Christ on the cross which was brought here from Porto Seguro, Bahia by almost 300 slaves.

• CavalhadasOwing to the high percentage of Spanish and Portuguese descendants in the area, the city's most famous festival centers around the fight to push the Moors out of the Iberian Peninsula. Colorful costumes abound. Among other festival events is a recreation of a famous battle fought by Charlemagne. Yearly in June.

• Cerrado Aventuras

  phone: +55 62 8579-9865
  Has options for hiking through a forest preserve, rafting, rappeling, and forest canopy tours.

Regional ingredients and dishes: pequi, guariroba, empadão goiano (a traditional chicken pie) and pamonha (sweet corn cooked with milk and cheese).

• Lá em Casa Restaurante

  phone: +55 62 3331-1918
  address: Av. Sizenando Jaime, 12
  A, Centro Histórico. Self-service restaurant serving typical Pirenopolin food.

• Restaurante e Choperia Empório do Cerrado

  phone: +55 62 3331-3874
  address: Rua do Rosário, 21
  Centro. Local and international dishes.

• Nena Restaurante

  phone: +55 62 3331-1470
  Rua Aurora, nº 4, Centro. Local dishes.

• Ponto da Massa

  phone: +55 62 3331-3260
  Av. Prefeito Luiz Gonzaga Jaime, nº 127, Alto do Bonfim. Italian food, pasta and lasagna are highlights.

• Portinha Casa de Grelhados

  phone: +55 62 9228-1402
  address: Rua do Bonfim, 29
  Centro Histórico. A la carte service.

• Empório Santa Dica

  phone: +55 62 3331-2655
  address: Rua do Bonfim, 17
  Centro Histórico. Emporium with a range of typical Goiano goods.

• Bem Caseiro Restaurante

  phone: +55 62 3331-2951
  address: Rua do Bonfim, 41
  A, Centro Histórico. Typical goiano home fare.

• Armazém Restaurante Bar

  address: Rua do Bonfim, 27
  Centro Histórico. Typical Goiano food.

Budget

• NóisHospeda

  phone: +55 62 3331-2578
  address: Rua do Bonfim, 22, Centro
  Nice, simple hotel in the town center

• Pousada Aconchego

  address: Travessa Sizenando Jayme, 1013, Centro
  Single, double and triple rooms with TV and fan. Swimming pool, children-sized, and barbecue coal grill (churrasqueira)

Mid-range

• Hotel Quinta Santa Bárbara

  phone: +55 62 3331-1304
  address: Rua do Bonfim, 1 - Centro
  Rooms and cottages with air-con or fan, TV and WiFi. Sauna, pools, billiards table, big garden

• O Casarão

  phone: +55 62 3331-2662
  address: Rua Direita, 79, Centro
  Rooms with air-con or ceiling fan, fridge, TV and WiFi

• Pousada Templários

  phone: +55 62 3331-2519
  address: Rua Carajás, Quadra 10, Lote 1, Setor Meia Ponte
  18 rooms with fan and TV, 8 with air-con, TV and WiFi

• Pousada Rancho do Ralf

  phone: +55 62 3331-1162
  address: Rua Benjamin Constant, 17, Centro
  Suites with TV, fridge and hammocks outside. Some with air-con, some with ceiling fans. Pool and leisure room.

• Hotel Quinta Santa Bárbara

  phone: +55 62 3331-1304
  This hotel has suites with air conditioning/fan, TV and Internet. It also has facilities such as swimming pools, sauna and a large grove.

• Pousada Walkeriana

  phone: +55 62 3331-1260
  address: 37, Rua do Rosário (access also by 2, Praça do Rosário)
  This hotel, set up in an old colonial-style house, has antique furniture, an orchid garden and a swimming pool.

Splurge

• Pousada dos Pireneus Resort

  phone: +55 62 3331-1345, +55 62 3214-2070 (Goiânia), +55 62 2101-7818 (Brasília)
  address: just outside town
  97 apartments, 6 master suites and 2 apartments adapted to wheelchair access. All apartments and suítes have TV, hair dryer, air-con, telephone, digital safe, and Wi-fi. Suites have living room with TV and can house up to 6 persons. Swimming pools, water slides, sports complex, restaurants serving both world and local cuisine, meeting hall for 600 persons e 12 meeting rooms.

• Brasília (124 km)
• Caldas Novas (242 km)
• Goiás City (142 km)
• Cocalzinho (35 km)
• Corumbá de Goiás (22 km)
• Goiânia (105 km)
• Jataí (419 km)