Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Santa Bárbara d'Oeste
When considering Confederate immigration to Brazil the town of Americana tends to
spring to mind, but in fact it's
SANTA BÁRBARA D'OESTE
, 13km to the west, which has
more Confederate associations. Whereas there are some 25 English-speaking families in
Americana, Santa Bárbara, much the smaller of the two cities, is home to about 30
families of Confederate origin - most of whom still speak English, with more than a
touch of Dixie in their voice.
Museu da Imigração
Rua João Lino 371 at Praça 9 de Julho • Tues-Sat 9am-noon & 1-5pm • Free •
T
19 3455 5082
Near the main square, a short walk from the rodoviária, the excellent
Museu da
Imigração
has displays on the history of the Confederates in the area, and that of other
nationalities, chiefly Italian. Although you wouldn't think so to look at it now, the
1896 building that houses it was originally the town jail.
Cemitério do Campo
Estrada dos Confederados • Free • The cemetery can only be reached by car; a taxi costs around R$50, and will wait for you while you look
around. As not all taxi drivers know where the cemetery is, ask the museum attendant to order one for you and give your driver precise
directions •
T
19 3629 4923,
W
fdasbo.org.br/site/historia/cemiterio
About 10km from town, the
Cemitério do Campo
is a cool and shaded cemetery on a
hill overlooking endless fields of sugar cane. It dates back to 1910, and all the
tombstones, as well as the monument commemorating the Confederate immigrants,
bear English inscriptions. There's a small chapel here, too, and a picnic area where,
four times a year (the second Sun of Jan, April, July and Oct), around 250 members
of the Fraternidade Descendência Americana (
W
fdasbo.org.br) usually arrive from
throughout Brazil to renew old ties. However, visits to the cemetery have been
suspended since it was damaged in a storm in 2011 and it is not clear when it will
be open to the public again.
8
FAZENDAS AROUND SÃO CARLOS
During the late nineteenth-century coffee boom, the interior of São Paulo state was known for
its coffee, and the area around
São Carlos
, now a bustling university city 140km northwest of
Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, was particularly productive. Today the farms around the city are largely
given over to sugar cane and oranges, and little evidence remains of the area's coffee-
producing past; the following
fazendas
are well worth a visit.
★
Casa do Pinhal
Rodovia Domingos Innocentini,
Km 4.5, São Carlos. At Km 227 of the SP-310
highway take the exit for Riberão Bonito, then
turn immediately onto Estrada da Broa; after 4km
you'll see a sign marking the entrance
T
16 3377
9191,
W
casadopinhal.com.br.
One of the oldest
surviving and best-preserved rural estates in the
state. The
casa grande
was built in 1831 and, typical
of the period, it was modelled after the large,
comfortable Portuguese city dwellings of the
eighteenth century; it still retains its original
furnishings and there are numerous outbuildings,
including the
senzalas
, or slave quarters. The
fazenda
is an easy day-trip from Campinas - and, at a stretch,
São Paulo - but you'll need your own transport. Visits
were suspended at last check while restoration work
was being carried out, so call ahead to confirm prices
and book. It's also possible to stay the night here, in
tasteful, country-style rooms on the estate.
Visits
Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1-5pm.
Fazenda Salto Grande
Rodovia Washington Luis
(SP-310), Km 273, Araraquara
T
16 3301 2160,
W
hotelfazendasaltogrande.com.br.
A
fazenda
47km northwest of São Carlos that has been
developed into a superb luxury hotel. Constructed
to serve as a coffee plantation in the late nineteenth
century, today the estate offers two swimming
pools, horse riding, very comfortable guest rooms
and e
xcellent
country cooking. Rates include full
board.
R$299
