Resende: Nature, Culture and Active Exploration
Accommodation in Resende
At the foot of the Serra da Mantiqueira, Resende combines urban culture with nature and hiking destinations in the municipality and surrounding area. The city is part of the Agulhas Negras tourist region. You can shape your trip around your preferred focus: historic architecture and art, protected areas, hikes or activities in the landscape. The airfield within the city limits is also part of Resende’s character: it is used for skydiving and scenic flights.
Art and Architectural History in Resende
The Museu de Arte Moderna de Resende was founded in 1950 by the writer Marques Rebelo. Its name reflects its focus as a modern art museum; its founding history adds a distinctive cultural note to the city. If you would like to include art in your trip alongside nature experiences, it offers a dedicated point of interest for your planning.
Old buildings, townhouses and mansions shape the character of the Centro Histórico de Resende. They were built using rammed earth techniques. This construction method also makes the historic center interesting for visitors who want to learn about traditional building techniques and the architecture of older homes. The museum and historic center offer different cultural themes that you can include in your travel plans independently of one another.
Protected Areas and Landscape
Parque Nacional do Itatiaia protects important headwaters and a rich biodiversity. Its territory includes parts of the municipalities of Itatiaia and Resende in the state of Rio de Janeiro, as well as Bocaina de Minas and Itamonte in Minas Gerais. For Resende, the national park is therefore an important point of reference if you want to make the region’s natural environment the focus of your stay.
In 2016, the state wildlife refuge Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Estadual da Lagoa da Turfeira was established in Resende. It covers 269 hectares. Another protected area in the municipality is the APA da Serrinha do Alambari, which protects the upper catchment areas of the Alambari and Pirapetinga rivers. In Parque Municipal Cachoeira da Fumaça–Jacuba, the Cachoeira da Fumaça, formed by the Rio Preto, is protected. The Fumaça district gives its name to the largest waterfall cascade in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
These protected areas each have a different focus: headwaters and upper river reaches, biodiversity and waterfall landscapes. They help you appreciate the municipality’s varied scenery without needing to visit all the natural destinations in one place.
Hiking, Cycling and Other Activities
The Circuito Cinco Lagos is an approximately 11 km hike. Parque Nacional do Itatiaia officially opened it in 2015; the route passes through areas of Resende and Itamonte. If you want to take a specific distance into account when planning your trip, this is a clearly defined hiking option.
The Pedra-Selada hike in Parque Estadual da Pedra Selada begins on private property and climbs steeply for 2,600 m to a summit 1,755 m high. It is classified as moderately difficult to challenging. The rock formation lies about 12 km from the town of Visconde de Mauá, in the direction of Campo Alegre and Rio Preto. These details help you distinguish the hike from other options; the hike begins on private property. Morro do Couto is 2,680 m high and the second-highest point in Parque Nacional do Itatiaia.
You can also experience the landscape on horseback: riding trails lead from Capelinha to Visconde de Mauá through the natural surroundings of the Serra da Mantiqueira. Mountainboarding is also practised as an outdoor sport in Visconde de Mauá. The Centro Cultural Visconde de Mauá hosts art exhibitions, as well as artistic workshops and environmental education workshops. Cycling routes can be found in various areas of Resende; featured routes include the one along Lago de Furnas near Represa do Funil.
Getting There and Choosing the Right Location for Your Trip
The Rodovia Presidente Dutra runs through Resende. The district of Visconde de Mauá can be reached via the paved RJ-163. If you are looking for a holiday rental, first decide which destinations you want your stay to focus on: culture in the city, hiking, cycling or activities around Visconde de Mauá. Then check the location of your preferred accommodation in relation to these destinations and the roads mentioned. This way, you can tailor your search to your actual itinerary rather than treating different places in the municipality as a single base.
The municipality also includes the town of Nhangapi. It is another option to consider if you do not want to limit your choice of where to stay in Resende to the city itself.
For the wider travel overview: Rio De Janeiro.
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