Simão Pereira: Historical Traces along the Caminho Novo

Simão Pereira combines tangible historic structures with the history of the Caminho Novo. In the town, the Chafariz da Praça Nossa Senhora da Glória and the tower of the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Glória represent two different restoration projects. At the municipality level, these are joined by the Casarão do Registro do Paraibuna and an ecological hike at Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra. When planning your trip, it is useful to distinguish between the historical landmarks in the town and the sites associated with the municipality.

Fountain and Church Tower

The historic Chafariz da Praça Nossa Senhora da Glória was put back into operation in 2021 after its water installations were restored. That same year, the municipal government restored the tower of the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Glória to preserve its historical heritage. It reinstated features that had been present until 1974. These projects reflect two different approaches to preservation: the fountain’s water installations and the historical features of the church tower. Both restorations give Simão Pereira’s cultural heritage a tangible architectural presence.

The Casarão on the Caminho Novo

The Casarão do Registro do Paraibuna is located in the municipality of Simão Pereira, along the historic Caminho Novo, which connected Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The building served as a customs post where colonial activities related to mining were monitored. The Casarão therefore links transportation and administrative history: the Caminho Novo connected the two regions, while the customs post served to monitor mining-related activities. Its former function makes the building a tangible landmark in the history of this route.

Hike by prior arrangement

In the municipality of Simão Pereira, the Picada do Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra is an original section of the Caminho Novo. An ecological hike passes by Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra. The municipality lists the cemetery as a cultural heritage site; its inventory record was updated in 2024. Hikes must be arranged in advance because the route crosses private property. Admission is free. Visits by students accompanied by teachers and horseback rides are also possible by prior arrangement. Since access conditions may change, it is advisable to check again before planning your trip. This allows you to combine the historic route with an ecological hike, for which advance arrangements are part of the planning.

Other Cultural Heritage Sites at the Municipal Level

The municipality also lists Cachoeira da Fazenda da Constituição and Lago Natural do Condomínio Miragem as cultural heritage sites. The inventory record for Cachoeira was updated in 2025, and the one for Lago Natural in 2024. The Orquidário Sítio Santo Antônio is also listed as an attraction in the municipality. These names add other designated cultural heritage sites at the municipal level to the historic buildings and the Caminho Novo. For your trip planning, this distinction remains useful: the Chafariz and the church tower represent restoration projects in the town, while the other sites mentioned are associated with the municipality of Simão Pereira.

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For the main travel overview: Minas Gerais.