Simão Pereira brings together restored historic buildings and traces of the Caminho Novo, which once connected Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. There is also an ecological hike along an original section of this route, passing the Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra. For those interested in culture, the municipality offers different perspectives on preservation, administrative history and the route’s historic course.
Restored buildings in town
The historic Chafariz da Praça Nossa Senhora da Glória was put back into operation in 2021 after its water systems were restored. The municipal administration also had the tower of Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Glória restored in 2021 to preserve the historic heritage. This work reinstated features that had existed until 1974. The projects had different focuses: the fountain’s water systems were central to its restoration, while the church tower project reinstated earlier architectural features. The years refer to different milestones: 2021 dates the restorations, while 1974 marks when the reinstated tower features were last present. Together, the fountain and church tower offer two concrete starting points for exploring the local history of preservation.
Caminho Novo: Customs post and route history
Within the municipality lies the Casarão do Registro do Paraibuna, on the historic Caminho Novo, which connected Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The building served as a customs post to monitor colonial activities related to mining. Its history thus links the route between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais with a specific administrative function. Those interested in historic routes will therefore find here not only a connection between the two regions, but also a link to the monitoring of mining-related activities.
The Picada do Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra, also in the municipality of Simão Pereira, is an original section of the Caminho Novo. An ecological hike passes the Cemitério da Rocinha da Negra. The cemetery is listed in the municipality’s cultural heritage inventory; its inventory record was updated in 2024. Both sites are associated with the same historic route, but reflect different aspects of it: the Casarão represents the monitoring of colonial mining activities, while the Picada is an original section of the route. This makes it possible to consider administrative history and the route’s course as distinct historical themes.
Hike by prior arrangement
Advance arrangements are required for this hike because the route crosses private property. Admission is free; that does not mean you can visit without prior arrangement. Visits by students and teachers, as well as horseback rides, are also available by prior arrangement. Confirm the arrangements again before your visit, as access conditions may change. In practical terms, this makes the hike different from the restored buildings: planning ahead is part of the process. Whether you choose this activity will therefore also depend on whether a scheduled visit fits your stay.
Discover more destinations: Horácio Alves, Lambari, Três Marias, Capitólio, Cristiano Otoni, Senhora Do Porto, Santo Antônio Do Aventureiro, Natércia
For the broader travel guide: Minas Gerais.
