Pirenopolis, a charming getaway in Goias
Named for its location in the Pireneus Mountains in the state of Goias in the heart of the Brazilian Savannah, Pirenopolis grew around its most prominent church, Igreja Martiz de Nossa Senhora do Rosario da Meia Ponte, constructed between 1728 and 1732. Though it did not become a town until 1830s, Pirenópolis gained prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries, with gold mining, trade and agriculture as its key industries. It remained isolated for much of the 20th century until it was rediscovered in the ’70s with the foundation of the federal capital of Brazil, Brasilia. In 1989 Pirenopolis was added to Brazil’s list of important sites of national heritage.
Today Pirenopolis is one of the highlights of a visit to the rich historical and artistic heritage of the Central West. Close to Brasilia and Goiania, with its own airport, Pirenopolis has well developed infrastructure for tourism hospitality including quaint lodges, hotels and restaurants. The small town is home to variety of artisans and craftsmen and famous for ecological sanctuaries in its vicinity, including beautiful waterfalls and special location.
Pirenopolis charm makes wandering its cobblestone streets lined with striking colonial buildings a favorite pastime. Embraced by hills which gave rise to its name, with mountains covered by rare rocky cerrado vegetation, unusual rock formations and crisscrossed by springs and waterfalls, Piri, its popular abbreviation compels people to stay longer than planned.
In is said that the mountains adjacent to Piri were indeed named after the Pyrenees by local Spanish immigrants, who out of nostalgia or temptation to find some resemblance to the mountains located between Spain and France gave the same name to these mountains in Goias.
Pirenopolis is not recognized as the cradle of culture in the state of Goias but this part of Brazil in general, often referred to as the Athens of Goias. Pirenópolis preserves its traditions well by staging cultural events such as Festival of Divino Espirito Santo and the Cavalhadas, a medieval cavalry spectacle performed in Pirenopolis since 1836 as part of the Festa do Divino.
Located only four hours drive from the capital Brasilia, Piri is a popular getaway especially for weekends when hotel rooms sell out fast despite prices as much as doubling for the nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
