Nova Venécia

In Nova Venécia, distinctive rock formations and hiking destinations meet cultural sites, river views and insights into the production of regional foods. This means you can shape your trip in different ways: with an excursion to the municipality’s heights, a visit to the Rio Cricaré or a look at local traditions. Which vacation rental is right for you as a base depends on which of these sides of Nova Venécia you’re especially keen to discover.

Rocky Peaks and Hiking Destinations

Pedra do Elefante can be reached by a hiking trail, and its summit is 604 meters high. From there, you can see the surrounding hills and rock outcrops, as well as Nova Venécia. Pedra da Fortaleza offers a different perspective from above: at 964 meters, it is considered the highest point in the municipality. A hiking trail leads to the top, where there is a viewpoint with sweeping vistas. If you mainly want to experience the landscape and viewpoints during your trip, you can make these destinations the focus of your plans.

As a distinctive rock formation and the municipality’s second-highest point, Pedra da Invejada adds another option. It is suitable for hiking, climbing, rappelling and photography. This gives you a choice of different activities among the rocky landscapes. Pedra do Cruzeiro adds a spiritual dimension: it has an altar, benches, a cross and a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora Aparecida. Access is through the Targa family’s property.

River, City Life and Culture

At the Rio Cricaré, the Passarela Giuseppe Dall’orto connects Avenida São Mateus with Avenida Vitória. It makes it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross between the two riverbanks and is also a tourist attraction above the river. Praça Adélio Lubiana is also located on its banks. It has outdoor recreational facilities, including multi-purpose sports courts, a running track and playgrounds. A craft market with food stalls takes place in the square on Friday evenings.

Cachoeira Grande is a small waterfall on the Rio Cricaré, in front of the Centro Cultural Casarão in Nova Venécia. The Casarão belongs to the municipal government and serves as a cultural center run by the Secretariat of Culture and Tourism. Activities held there include free music lessons for the public. Another cultural stop is Matriz de São Marcos, considered a replica of a church in Vicenza, Italy, and built in the 1960s. Casa de Pedra do Parletti, in turn, is a rare example of the vernacular architecture of Italian immigrants in Nova Venécia; it is built of stone masonry.

Agriculture and Local Products

If you’re interested in how regional products are made, you’ll find several different visitor experiences. At Fazenda Aliança, visitors can learn about feeding the animals, milking them and processing the milk into cheese. Sítio Pionti has a visitor route dedicated to the history and tradition of cachaça, as well as its local production. The property includes a 200-meter-long underground tunnel that is open to visitors for a symbolic entrance fee. It shows where the cachaça is stored and aged.

Cachaça Mineirinha 1 also offers a visitor experience focused on the artisanal production of the spirit and its long-standing distilling tradition; an appointment must be made by phone. Visits to Sítio Rochedo are available by appointment. There, you can learn about rice cultivation and harvesting, as well as the harvesting of fruits such as cocoa, açaí, avocado, cupuaçu, hearts of palm and jackfruit. These stops appeal to different interests, from animal husbandry and cheesemaking to growing and processing agricultural products.

Your Trip and Choosing a Base

Nova Venécia is connected by the fully paved highways ES-130, ES-137, ES-220 and BR-381. When choosing a vacation rental, you can therefore first consider which experiences you want to focus on during your trip: rocky destinations and hiking trails, places along the Rio Cricaré, or visits offering insights into agriculture and cachaça production. Plan your visits around the respective destinations, and make an appointment in advance for visits to Cachaça Mineirinha 1 and Sítio Rochedo.

If you’d like to discover more places, you’ll also find pages here about Pedro Canário, Mimoso do Sul, Angra dos Reis, Serra, Baixo Guandu, Divino de São Lourenço and Fundão.

For the broader travel overview: Espírito Santo.