Explore Araxá through its art, urban history and living traditions. Museums and cultural attractions offer different perspectives: from the works of a single artist to mementos of the city’s history and the history of the Black population. The approximately 1.4-kilometre walking and hiking trail in Parque do Cristo adds an opportunity to get outdoors to these cultural experiences.
Museums spanning art and urban history
The Museu Calmon Barreto displays 257 works by Calmon Barreto. The Memorial de Araxá, by contrast, preserves an extensive collection on the city’s history: 1,406 objects from 220 people who are part of Araxá’s history. Comparing the two can help you choose a cultural focus: one museum centres on an artist’s work, while the other preserves memories of many people and their connection to the city.
The buildings, too, tell different chapters of the city’s history. The Fundação Cultural Calmon Barreto is based in a former railway station of the Estrada de Ferro Oeste de Minas. The building dates from 1926 and has municipal heritage protection under Municipal Law No. 2,411 of December 28, 1990. At Praça Arthur Bernardes, the former station building preserves this historical connection; today, it houses the Fundação Cultural Calmon Barreto.
The Museu da Memória Legislativa Araxaense is located in the former Câmara Municipal building, known as Palácio Nagib Feres. Another perspective on Araxá’s cultural history can be found at the Museu Sacro da Igreja de São Sebastião: it was established by Law No. 2,468 of November 14, 1991, to preserve the religious and artistic history of Araxá and its people. The museum is temporarily closed for renovations.
Memory, festivals and culinary heritage
The Centro de Referência da Cultura Negra focuses on the history and memory of the Black population. A gallery of objects, biographies and photographs of notable citizens presents a range of personal and cultural perspectives. Free guided tours are offered on days when the centre is open.
Araxá’s cultural heritage also includes recurring traditions and a well-known sweet. The Feast of São Sebastião is celebrated on January 20 and has been held in Araxá since 1811. Ambrosia from Araxá has been recognized as intangible cultural heritage since 2011 and is protected by the Instituto Estadual do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico de Minas Gerais (Iepha). Religious tradition and culinary heritage thus complement the themes of art, architecture and memory.
A walking trail and a destination nearby
Parque do Cristo has an approximately 1.4-kilometre walking and hiking trail. This approximate distance provides a concrete guide for anyone who would like to plan an outdoor activity alongside cultural visits. The trail offers a different focus from the collections and historic buildings; you can give each experience independent consideration when planning your trip.
Near Araxá are the thermal baths of the Complexo do Barreiro. They are connected to the Grande Hotel by an elevated gallery. This architectural link adds another perspective on buildings and culture in the area around the destination to the historic buildings in the city.
Discover more destinations: Carrancas, Manhuaçu, Conceição Da Ibitipoca, Natércia, Nova Ponte, Coronel Fabriciano, Governador Valadares, Araçuaí
For the full travel overview: Minas Gerais.
