Gravatá

Getting there

Gravatá is in the Agreste Region of Pernambuco. Fly to Recife's Guararapes International Airport. The city is only 86 kilometers west of Recife on interstate highway BR-232. The same BR-232 leads to Caruaru (an addition 54-km drive).

See

Alto do Cruzeiro lookout point, with a statue of Christ the Redeemer. Access through the Escadaria da Felicidade (Stairs of Happiness). Artisan Station (Estação do Artesão), handicraft and arts center located in the old train station. Recife-Gravatá Railway. City Memorial (Memorial da Cidade), cultural center and museum located in the old prison building (1911). Beautiful historical buildings include: Prefeitura (City Hall) (1909) Matriz de Sant'Anna Church (1810) Cruzeiro Chapel Guimarães House, at Rua Rui Barbosa, 126 Antonio Farias House, at Rua João Pessoa, 12 Cabral House, at Avenida Governador Agamenon Magalhães, 14 Chalets in Avenida Joaquim Didier (Chalet Vallois, Chalet Farias, Chalet Amadeu Battar) Caranguejo Sugar Plantation, in the district of Uruçu-Mirim (16 km from city center) Pernambuco Orchids Center (Centro de Orquídeas de Pernambuco), located at Recanto Baraúna Mountains and hills: Serra das Ruças, Serra das Cãibras, Serra da Estrela, Serra do Maroto Balneário de Dona Nadir, natural pools Cachoeira da Palmeira waterfalls Tao wateralls Flower, strawberry and pineapple farms

Do

Festivities Frei Damião Festivities, every May. Walk from the Matriz Nossa Senhora de Santa'Ana Church to the Riacho do Mel Chapel, where Frei Damião celebrate his first mass in Brazil. São João Festivities, in late June.

Trekking Several exciting trails are available:

Estrada de Chã-Grande Trail Flores Trail (at Fazenda Pedra do Tao, in Camocim district) Fonte de Água Mineral Trail (at Fazenda Pedra do Tao, in Camocim district) Karawatá Trail (at Serra do Maroto) Palmeira Trail (at Sitio da Palmeira) Pedra do Tao Trail (at Fazenda Pedra do Tao, Camocim district) Três Vendas Trail (at Sítio Três Vendas) Trilhos Trail (at Fazenda Canaã) Mocó Stone Park (Parque de Pedras do Mocó) Train Tunnels: 14 train tunnels are located in the Serra das Ruças mountains. Russinhas village is a pineapple-producing community.

Adventure Sports Cascavel Train Bridge (19th century), built by the British. Extreme sports. Rappel. Pedra Branca (75 meters). Alpinism, rappel, free flight. Pedra Dourada Pedra do Tao. Rappel, climbing, orchids.

Buy

Furniture. Handicrafts. Fresh flowers, strawberries and pineapple. Desserts: Doce de Leite and Garra Sertaneja.

Eat

Local traditional dishes include buchada, sarapatel and galinha cabidela. Gravatá is also famous for its fondue restaurants. Desserts: Doce de Leite and Garra Sertaneja.

Sleep

Casa Grande Gravatá [1], BR-232, Km 82, tel.: +55 81 3533-0920 and +55 81 3465-3011 Fazenda Céu Aberto [2], Estrada Velha de Chã Grande, km 3, tel.: +55 81 9126-9600 Highlander ], Estrada de Chã Grande, tel.: +55 81 3515-1517 and +55 81 3424-3838 Portal de Gravatá [3], BR-232, km 82, tel.: +55 81 3533-0288 and +55 81 3227-0345 Spa Oásis [4], Fazenda Sampaio, R. Duarte Coelho, tel.: +55 81 3533-0380 and +55 81 9972-0990 Sempre Verde/Evergreen Experiences & Horse Trekking [5] , ecotourism, birdwatching, 12 km from central Gravatá, 800 metres above sea level, tel.: +55 81 3533-7524 / +55 81 9958-3861.