Brasília and the Planalto Central - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 426

Museu das Bandeiras
Praça Brasil Ramos Caiado • Tues-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-2pm • R$4 • T 62 3372 1133
he Museu das Bandeiras , situated up the hill on the Praça Brasil Ramos Caiado,
recounts the story of the gold rush through artefacts including slave shackles and
chains. A unique feature is the building itself, which has a combined governor's o ce
and council chamber upstairs and jail downstairs - an arrangement typical of early
eighteenth-century Brazilian towns. The room to the right of the entrance desk was
once part of the jail and has changed very little since it was built.

6

Casa de Cora Coralina
Rua Dom Cândido 20 • Tues-Sat 9am-4.45pm, Sun 9am-3pm • R$5 • T 62 3371 1990
he Casa de Cora Coralina was the home of a local poet who never left the town in
all of her 96 years of life but used it as raw material and became nationally famous.
Located on the corner of a colonial street overlooking the Rio Vermelho, the museum
is a hotchpotch of old furniture, photos and manuscripts, giving you a glimpse into
small-town life.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION GOIÁS VELHO

By bus The rodoviária ( T 62 3371 1510) is 1km south of
town, served by sixteen daily buses to Goiânia (3hr), where
you'll generally need to change for points beyond.
By motorbike taxi The best way to get around, other
than your own two feet, is with the local motorbike taxis;

you'll see a stand of them in most squares, and there is one
opposite the rodoviária; agree the price before you go.
Tourist information The Centro de Atendimento ao
Turista is right in the centre of town at Rua Moretti Foggia
20 (daily 7am-8pm; T 62 3371 7713).

ACCOMMODATION
Araguaia Av Dr Deusdeth Ferreira de Moura 8 T 62
3371 1462. A friendly, inexpensive, family-run hotel
(though still with wi-fi, fridge and, in some rooms, a/c at
extra cost) located southeast of town on the way up to the
university. The best rooms a re at t The back, with views over
the wooded hillside behind. R$80
Casa da Ponte Rua Moretti Foggia T 62 3371 4467,
E [e-mail]. Slap-bang in the
middle of town, right by the wooden bridge (hence the
name: “House of the Bridge”) linking the two banks of the
river, this place offers a bit of old-fashioned charm and, if
you get in there quick when making your reservation,
views over the river t oo. Exce llent value, although you pay
a fair bit more for a/c. R$120
Pousada do Ipê Rua do Fórum 22 T 62 3371 2065,
W pousadadoipego.com.br. An upmarket pousada in a
lovely old house north of the river, with essentials such as

air conditioning and a pool. R$226
Pousada do Sol Rua Americano Brasil 17 T 62 3371
1717, W pousadadosol.net.br. One of the cheapest places
in town to stay, but still very pleasant, with rooms along a
yard at the back, simple but bri ght an d clean with wooden
shutters and a homespun feel. R$100
Serrano Av Dr Deusdeth Ferreira de Moura (almost at the
top, 1km southeast of town) T 62 3371 1825, E hotel
[e-mail]. The pictures in the lobby are a bit
kitsch, but the rooms are pretty spacious and a very good deal
for the price, especially for single occupancy. R$80
Vila Boa Morro Chapéu do Padre (1km southeast of
town, off Av Dr Deusdeth Ferreira de Moura) T 62 3371
1000, W hotelvilaboa.com.br. A good-value upmarket
choice, on a wooded hillside with lots of wildlife-spotting
opportunities, not to m ention cosy rooms, a good
restaurant and a large pool. R$198

EATING
Flor do Ipê Rua Boa Vista 32 (across the square from
Pousada Ipê) T 62 3372 1133. A beautiful outdoors
dining area where they serve a typical regional buffet
(R$27) that includes salads, pork, stewed chicken, okra and
regional vegetables like pequí - of which, beware (see
p.424). Tues-Sun noon-3pm.
Restaurante Braseiro Praça Brasil Ramos Caiado
T 62 3371 2892. Real local food cooked on a proper
wood stove, with a different selection of dishes daily,

and for R$20 you can eat as much as you want. Daily
11am-2pm.
Restaurante Dalí Sabor e Arte Rua 13 de Maio 26
T 62 3372 1640. Not as arty-farty as its name suggests,
and pretty traditional food-wise, despite the modern
decor, this is a great place to check out the local
speciality, empadão - meat pie with palm hearts, served
in a special bowl to keep it hot (R$15). Tues-Sun
11am-midnight.