Santa Maria Between Nature and Culture

Santa Maria offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: protected nature, botanical diversity, collections, architectural history and cultural venues. When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to ask what you would like to focus on. Are you particularly interested in nature, would you like to explore history, or do you want to combine different interests? The following places offer some practical points of reference.

Nature and green spaces

Parque Natural Municipal dos Morros is a municipal protected area in the “Municipal Natural Park” category and is under full protection. The park offers opportunities for ecotourism, recreation and physical activities in contact with nature. A permit may be required to visit. Jardim Botânico de Santa Maria offers a different focus: 349 species have been catalogued across its 13 hectares, with approximately 2,500 individual plants. The inventories may be updated. Thus, the botanical garden highlights species and individual plant numbers, while the classification of Parque Natural dos Morros describes the protected status of the natural area.

Parque Itaimbé is located in central Santa Maria. Its facilities include sports courts and a walking path; these amenities may change over time. If they are important to your plans, check the current status before visiting. Together, these three green spaces offer different points of interest: protection and nature experiences at Parque Natural Municipal dos Morros, documented diversity at Jardim Botânico, and physical activity at Parque Itaimbé.

Museums and their different focuses

Museu Gama d’Eça has collections in paleontology, archaeology and numismatics, as well as taxidermied animal specimens, historical objects and documents. Its collections therefore range from fossils and archaeological finds to coins, alongside animal specimens and written records. Those wishing to get to know Santa Maria through its museums will find several ways to explore natural and human history here, rather than just one collection focus.

Museu de Solos do Rio Grande do Sul in Camobi opened in 1973 and was the first of its kind in South America. Museu de Arte de Santa Maria offers a different perspective on art: a municipal report dated September 14, 2023, describes permanent and temporary exhibitions featuring artists from the region and around the world. The exhibition program may change. The comparison is therefore also a thematic one: the soil museum focuses on a scientific subject, while the art museum brings together regional and international art in its exhibitions.

Architectural history and cultural venues

Vila Belga consists of 84 adjoining homes. Its cohesive architectural form makes it a distinctive point of reference for anyone interested in the architectural history of Santa Maria. Theatro Treze de Maio was inaugurated in 1890 and ushered in a period of intense cultural activity over the following 23 years. This historical time frame speaks to the cultural role the theater developed after it opened, without implying that it reflects its current program.

Santuário de Schoensttatt is also part of the city’s religious history: Santa Maria was chosen as the site of the first Santuário de Schoensttatt in Brazil, and it was inaugurated on April 11, 1948. Vila Belga, the theater and the sanctuary each represent a different aspect of the city’s history: residential architecture, performing arts and religious heritage.

Location considerations when choosing accommodation

The different locations can offer practical guidance when looking for a vacation rental. Parque Itaimbé is in central Santa Maria; Museu de Solos do Rio Grande do Sul and Vinícola Dalla Corte are in Camobi. Vinícola Dalla Corte produces wines, juices and sparkling wines there. This adds a distinctive local dimension alongside nature, museums and architectural history, without implying that the producer offers visits. If family members have different interests, you can narrow down your options according to whether nature, cultural history, art or local products are the main priority.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Teutônia, Arroio do Sal, Telmo Fontoura, São Pedro Do Sul, Pontão, Alto Uruguai, Arroio do Meio, Giruá.

For the broader travel overview: Rio Grande Do Sul.