at a glance

A devout man, Gonçalo erected a chapel on the land in 1625. The building was dedicated to the patron saint of this area, São Gonçalo de Amarante, and still stands today. This important Portuguese saint has several locations and churches dedicated to him across Brazil.

It is interesting to note, that Gonçalo Correia de Sá's heiress, Dona (lady) Vitoria de Sá, divided the fazenda, or 'plantation', into three large farms. She bestowed these lands to Benedictine Priests, who occupied the region for around 200 years.

The district is very mountainous, and therefore boasts a striking and majestic topography, including Pedra Branca, or 'White Rock', Pedra Rosilha, or 'Rosilha Rock', and Serra do Nogueira, or 'Walnut Mountain'.