Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
had some Bororo blood in his veins. By 1903 he had extended the telegraph from
Cuiabá south to Corumbá, and in 1907 he began work to reach the Rio Madeira, to
the northwest in the Amazon basin. The latter expedition earned Rondon a reputation
as an important explorer and brought him into contact with the Nambikwara. Since
then, Cuiabá has been pushing forward the frontier of development and the city is still
a stepping stone and crossroads for pioneers. Every year, thousands of hopeful settlers
stream through Cuiabá on their way to a new life in the western Amazon.
The established farmlands around the city now produce abundant crops - maize,
fruit, rice and soya. But the city itself thrives on the much larger surrounding
cattle-
ranching region
, which contains almost a quarter of a million inhabitants. A large
lead-ore deposit is being worked close to the town, and oil has been discovered at
neighbouring Várzea Grande (the town where the airport is located); in the longer
term, however, it is sustainable industries, like rubber, palm nuts and, of course,
ecotourism, that may provide income.
7
Praça da República and around
The central
Praça da República
is a hive of activity from daybreak onwards. It's the city's
main meeting spot, and the cathedral, post o
ce, Palacio da Instrução and the Museu
Histórico all face onto the square, while under the shade of its large trees, hippies from
the Brazilian coast sell crafted jewellery and leather work. Just to the northeast of Praça
da República, a few narrow central lanes - Pedro Celestino, Galdino Pimentel, Ricardo
Franco and Rua 7 de Setembro - form a crowded pedestrian shopping area. Nearby, on
Praça do Rosário, you'll find the city's oldest church, the simple but run-down
Igreja
Nossa Senhora do Rosário e Capela de São Benedicto
, completed in 1722. Although
worth visiting by day, this area is best avoided at night.
Palácio da Instrução
Praça da República 151 • Mon-Fri 1.30pm-7pm • Free
The most interesting old mansion in town is the
Palácio da Instrução
. It houses the
city's library on the ground floor, with books spanning children's literature to regional
history (in Portuguese). There's a delightful inner courtyard too. Upstairs is the
Pavilhão das Artes
, which holds interesting temporary art exhibitions as well as
cultural events and art courses.
Museu Historico de Mato Grosso
Praça da República 131 • Mon-Fri 2-6pm • Free •
T
65 3613 9234
After a recent refurbishment, the
Museu Historico de Mato Grosso
is back to claim its
position as the city's main museum. Divided up into different periods, the museum
depicts Cuiabá's history from eighteenth-century colonial times up until the postwar
twentieth century. Artefacts include cannons from the Paraguayan War and nineteenth
century furniture from the former Casa dos Governadores (Governors' House).
Catedral do Bom Jesus
Praça da República s/n • Mass: Mon 6.30pm, Tues-Sat 6.30am & 6.30pm, Sun 7am, 9am, 5pm, 7pm • Free
he
Catedral do Bom Jesus
was built in the 1960s to replace the old cathedral, a
beautiful Baroque affair that was then thought old-fashioned. Constructed from
pinkish concrete with a square, vaguely Moorish facade, the new cathedral has a
predictably vast, rectangular interior; its main altar is overshadowed by a mural
reaching from floor to ceiling that depicts a sparkling Christ floating in the air above
the city of Cuiabá and the cathedral.
