Discover Serro

Serro offers several distinct themes for a stay: churches from different periods, religious art, a regional museum, and a selection of cheeses associated with the Salão do Queijo in the town center. Travel options also depend on your point of departure; car, bus, and plane are all possibilities. This lets you tailor your hotel and travel plans to your interests and starting point.

Churches and architectural history

The first Matriz of Vila do Príncipe was built in 1713 under the patronage of Santo Antônio. The present-day Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Conceição is considered one of the largest religious structures in Brazilian colonial architecture. The start and completion dates of the Igreja do Carmo are recorded: construction began in 1768 and was completed in 1781. The different dates offer a brief comparison: a year of construction is recorded for the first Matriz, while the Igreja do Carmo has a documented start and end to its construction period.

The Igreja de Santa Rita dates from the 18th century. In front of it, a long staircase offers panoramic views of Serro’s streets, mansions, and other churches. Paintings and carved lines at the Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matozinhos point to the Rococo style. Alongside the dates, a specific viewpoint and an artistic feature offer different perspectives on Serro’s churches.

Religious art and festival culture

The Museu Regional Casa dos Ottoni is located in Serro in an 18th-century building. It was founded in 1949 and mainly preserves works of Catholic art. These include works carried in the Procissão de Cinzas, as well as works from the demolished church of Nossa Senhora da Purificação. The collection complements the architectural themes with Catholic visual art and two specific contexts: a procession and the origins of works from a church that no longer exists.

The Festa do Rosário de Serro, also called the Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Homens Pretos do Serro, is another part of the town’s cultural identity. Under Municipal Decree No. 5.837/2016, dated November 25, 2016, it is listed as intangible cultural heritage of Serro. For planning a trip around specific themes, it adds festival culture to the perspectives offered by the churches and museum.

Cheese and getting there

In the center of Serro, the Salão do Queijo is associated with Frescal, aged, smooth-rind, bloomy-rind, and artisanal cheeses. The selection therefore includes a range of types, from Frescal and aged cheeses to those with smooth or bloomy rinds. The availability of individual varieties may change; if you are looking for a particular type, check the current selection.

Depending on your point of departure, you can reach Serro by car, bus, or plane. The available travel options therefore depend on your starting point. The town’s different themes can also help you choose a focus for your stay based on your interests.

Discover more destinations: Senador Amaral, Delfim Moreira, Sabará, Uberaba, Teófilo Otoni, São José da Barra, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Caxambu

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.