Areias: History between sacred buildings and places of remembrance

Areias makes its history visible through specific buildings and places of remembrance. The Matriz Senhora Sant´Ana was built from 1792, completed in 1874 and renovated in 1890; inside are depictions of Senhora Sant’Ana and São Miguel. The three dates clearly distinguish the start, completion and later renovation. For travelers interested in cultural history, the Matriz offers an introduction that encompasses religious art and a long history of construction.

Buildings from different eras

An older sacred landmark is the Capela da Boa Morte e Senhor Bom Jesus, which dates from the mid-18th century. Jean Baptiste Debret captured it in a drawing. The Hotel Solar Imperial was built in 1798 by Capitão-mor Gabriel Serafim da Silva; D. Pedro I stayed there on August 17, 1822. The year it was built and the precisely dated stay belong to different moments in the place’s history. The chapel and the Solar thus offer two distinct perspectives: the history of religious architecture on the one hand, and a specific historical episode on the other.

The Casa da Cultura represents another former function in town life. It was built in 1833 to house Areias’s town council and public jail. Today, an extensive collection of historical records is exhibited there. The building therefore differs from the sacred buildings: its history began with a public function and is now complemented by the collection on display.

The Casa do Artesão turns the focus to local handicrafts. It was built in 1998 in the same colonial architectural style as earlier buildings, to market local handicrafts. The products on offer include various sweets and cachaça. These products give the theme of handicrafts a tangible culinary connection.

Places of remembrance and city views

The town’s history is also commemorated at the Mirante da Revolução Constitucionalista de 1932, which was inaugurated on September 10, 2021. Another mirante in the Santa Clara neighborhood offers a partial view of the city; the spot is also associated with photography and picnics. If you plan to visit this mirante, check whether it is accessible before you go. Another historical episode concerns the Festa do Senhor Morto: a newspaper report from 1873 states that about 1,000 people attended. The figure gives the celebration’s scale at the time a concrete measure.

Considering Areias as a vacation destination

The dates highlight different aspects: for the Matriz, they mark a long construction period and a renovation; for the Casa da Cultura, they indicate its original public purpose; and for the Solar Imperial, construction and the historic stay took place at different times. Areias’s past cannot therefore be reduced to a single attraction; sacred buildings, public use and commemorated events stand alongside one another as distinct themes.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Areias, start by considering the kind of vacation you want: would you like to focus on architectural history, religious art and local culture? These places offer concrete points of reference to help you decide whether Areias suits your travel plans. If you are traveling together, different interests can be taken into account when making this decision, without limiting your stay to a single attraction.

Discover more destinations: Presidente Epitácio, Sales Oliveira, São Bernardo Do Campo, São Lourenço da Serra, Monteiro Lobato, Nova Odessa, Tupã, Campina do Monte Alegre

For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.