Piracicaba

Understand

Campinas is undoubtedly the largest city and economic powerhouse of the Campinas Region, but hardly any city of the region beats Piracicaba in terms of cultural vibrancy. The city has several cultural centers, annual traditions from both caipira and immigrant origins, and is the birthplace of the caipirinha. Founded in 1776 at the shores of the Piracicaba river, the so-called Vila Nova da Constituição grew with sugarcane production, unlike most of the São Paulo state which grew with coffee farming. Thanks to city council member Prudente de Moraes, who would later become the first civil president of Brazil, in 1881 Vila Nova da Constituição changed its name to Piracicaba. Sugarcane remains very important to the city's economy, as Piracicaba is a major producer of ethanol.

See

Riverside

Rua do Porto (Parallel to R. Alidor Pecorari). The pedestrianized street in the front of the Piracicaba river, containing old, colorful fisherman houses, is not only a place with excellent bars and restaurants, but also where the city was first settled. Casarão do Turismo, Rua do Porto, 1433, ☏ +55 19 3403-1270, +55 19 3422-5115. This 19th-century house is used as tourist information center, and hosts some cultural expositions. Not open on Monday. Salto do Rio Piracicaba, Av. Beira Rio, s/n (Near the Museum of Water). A small segmented waterfall in the Piracicaba River that gives the name to the city. Parque do Mirante, Av. Maurice Allain, s/n (Next to Engenho Velho), ☏ +55 19 3417-9494. Park by the Piracicaba river, that provides some nice views of the segmented waterfall, the Rua do Porto, and the city center. Engenho Central, Av. Maurice Allain, 454, ☏ +55 19 3403-2600. 08:00-18:00. With an area of 85,000 m², the "Barão de Rezende" sugar mill, constructed in a 1881, is a valuable historical heritage. It hosts several cultural events. Museu da Água, Av. Beira Rio, 448, ☏ +55 19 3432-8063. W-F 07:00-17:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:45. Built in 1887, the old water catchment station is now an educational museum and offers some nice views of the Piracicaba river. Casa do Povoador, Av. Beira Rio, 800, ☏ +55 19 3434-8605. 08:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00. Rammed-earth house constructed between the 18th and 19th centuries, used to host small expositions. 1 Alto Mirante, Ponte “Caio Tabajara Esteves de Lima (North of Parque Mirante, on the SP-127 bridge). F-Su 11:00-21:00. Tourist elevator on the bridge above the Piracicaba waterfall. Good view of downtown and river. R$2.

Downtown Centro Cultural Martha Watts (Old Colégio Piracicabano), Rua Boa Morte, 1257 - Centro, ☏ +55 19 3124-1889. M-F 09:00-17. Former school founded in 1881 by an American missionary, nowadays a cultural center. Museu Prudente de Morais, Rua Santo Antônio, 641 - Centro, ☏ +55 19 3432-2148. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Museum dedicated to the history of Piracicaba and Brazil's first civil president, Prudente de Moraes, who lived in the same construction during the 19th century. Built in an eclectic style, it is a national heritage site. Igreja Metodista de Piracicaba, R. Dom Pedro x R. Gov. Pedro de Toledo. The Methodist church in Piracicaba started with American missionaries, the same ones who founded the Colégio Piracicabano and the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP). The current construction is from 1922. Pinacoteca Municipal, Rua Moraes Barros, 233 - Centro, ☏ +55 1

Do

Piracicaba river boat ride, ☏ +55 19 9747-4545. 15-minute boat rides along the Piracicaba river, departing at Rua do Porto. Day trips to other municipalities (like Barra Bonita) are also available by reservation.

Buy

Rua do Porto Handcrafts Fair, Rua do Porto. Sa Su 10:00-18:00. Handcrafts fair that typically happens in Rua do Porto during Saturdays and Sundays. Check the website for exact dates. Centro Handcrafts Fair, Praça José Bonifácio - Centro. Tu-F 10:00-17, Sa 10:00-14:00. Handcrafts fair that happens in the city center, starting in the first Tuesday of each month and ending on Saturdays. Check the website for exact dates.

Eat

Piracicaba's most famous local dish is the peixe no tambor ("fish in the drum"), served on Rua do Porto. Piracicaba is also famous for its pamonha, a dessert made of mashed corn, milk (or coconut milk), sugar, cinnamon, butter and fennel, produced in the rural neighborhood of Tanquinho. The restaurants of the Santa Olímpia neighborhood also offer dishes of Tyrolese origin, like polenta with chicken, canederli and polenta brustolada.

Municipal Market, Rua Governador Pedro de Toledo, 1336. Founded in 1888, Piracicaba's municipal market is a great place to eat pamonha. Dezoitos, Rua Alidor Pecorari, 1917 - Parque do Porto, ☏ +55 19 3434-6225. A traditional and popular restaurant that serves peixe no tambor. Pay per kilogram of fish.

Sleep

Antonio´s Palace Hotel, Av. Independência, 2805 - Cidade Alta, ☏ +55 19 3417-6000, [email protected]. Colina Park Hotel, Avenida Doutor Paulo de Moraes, 460 - Castelinho, ☏ +55 19 3422 1555. Hotel Beira Rio, Rua Luiz Curiacos, 51 - Centro, ☏ +55 19 3401-1000, [email protected]. Hotel Ibis, Av Armando Dedini,125. Hotel Nacional, Rua do Rosário, 1358, ☏ +55 19 3428-4000. Princeton Hotel, Rua Prudente de Moraes, 543 - Centro, ☏ +55 19 3433-5790. Royal Park Hotel, Rua Saldanha Marinho, 555 - Cidade Jardim, ☏ +55 19 3433-6955, [email protected].

Go next

Águas de São Pedro - A prosperous and charming mineral spring resort town.