Simão Pereira: Restored Buildings and the Caminho Novo

Simão Pereira invites visitors to explore local history and an outing in the municipality as distinct parts of a trip. In the town, the historic Chafariz da Praça Nossa Senhora da Glória and the tower of Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Glória each tell a specific story of restoration. In the municipality, the Caminho Novo and an ecological hike offer further options. When planning a holiday rental trip, it is therefore worth distinguishing between architectural history and a visit that must be arranged in advance.

Fountain and church tower: two restorations

The historic Chafariz da Praça Nossa Senhora da Glória was returned to service after its water installations were restored. A municipal publication documents this step in 2021. This places the reopening in context without confusing it with the restoration of a different building.

At Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Glória, the restoration concerned the tower. In 2021, the city administration restored it to preserve the historic heritage and reinstated features that had existed until 1974. The years serve different purposes: 2021 dates the restoration, while 1974 marks the point up to which the relevant features had existed. The fountain and the tower thus provide two specific historical reference points: water installations and restored features on the church tower.

The Caminho Novo and its history

The Casarão do Registro do Paraibuna is located in the municipality of Simão Pereira on the historic Caminho Novo, which connected Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The building served as a customs post for monitoring colonial activities related to mining. The route was therefore more than a connection between two regions: the Casarão also points to the monitoring function associated with mining activities at the time.

The Picada do Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra is an original section of the Caminho Novo. The Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra is part of the municipality’s cultural heritage, and an ecological hike passes by it. In this way, the municipality brings together architectural history, the historic course of a route and a hiking trail in different ways, without making them the same kind of outing.

Hike by prior arrangement

The Trilha do Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra is an ecological hike that passes by the cemetery. Visits must be arranged in advance because the hike crosses private property. Admission is free. Visits by students and teachers, as well as horseback rides, are also possible by prior arrangement. Free admission and the need to arrange a visit in advance both apply. As visiting conditions may change, confirm the arrangements again before your outing.

If you are travelling with children, make this arrangement a fixed step in your planning. When looking for a holiday rental in Simão Pereira, the mix of activities you want may also determine your choice: restoration and architectural history, or a hike that must be arranged in advance. Decide what to prioritise before comparing accommodation, and plan around the activities you actually want to include.

Discover more destinations: Gordura, Nova Lima, Pirapora, Santa Bárbara, Fazendinha, Rio Casca, Paracatu, Guarda-Mor.

Back to the main travel overview: Minas Gerais.