Serro is an old colonial town in the state of Minas Gerais. The birthplace of Chica da Silva, the ‘Queen of Diamantina', it is found around 90 km/56 miles to the south of Diamantina and 255 km/158 miles to the north of Belo Horizonte. The townspeople over the years have ensured that its heritage is well preserved, as is evident from historic buildings like Casa dos Otonis.

With stunning landscapes, gorgeous green hills, tall mountain peaks, serene sounds of nature and simple yet exotic local cuisine, you will be able to relax and unwind on a Serro holiday!

The Serro destination guide below shows you the highlights of what there is to see and do during your trip to Serro, while our Serro tours page provides some great options for exploring the town and its beautiful countryside. More general information about what there is to do in the rest of Brazil can be found in our Brazil country guide.

Things to see & do in Serro

In the town's central square, you will find the church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, which boasts of the world famous ceiling paintings by eighteenth century artiste Silvestro de Almeida Lopes. More than 200 years haven't dimmed the magnificence of these paintings and people flock here from all over the world to see this Brazilian landmark. One of the local religious festivals is celebrated in this very square - the Festa do Rosário (Festival of the Rosary) is held on the first Sunday of every July. The townsfolk come out on this day in all their finery and the streets are also adorned with flowers and impressive patterns in sand. Some of the other noteworthy churches in the neighbourhood are Nossa Senhora de Conceicao, Nossa Senhora do Carmo and Santa Rita.

Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Serro:

Museu Casa dos Otoni
Chácara do Barão do Serro
Casa do General Carneiro
Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Capela de Santa Rita
Festa do Rosário
Districts within Serro
Milho Verde
State Park of the Pico do Itambé

Museu Casa dos Otoni

Built in century XVIII, its origin seems to be connected to Manuel Gomes do Amorim and his wife, Juliana Correia da Cunha. However, the building gained fame for having sheltered the family of Jorge Benedito Otoni, father of Teófilo and Cristiano Otoni, all of them leaders and influential politicians during the Empire. Cristiano Otoni was a republican politician and leader of the Liberal Revolution of Minas Gerais of 1842. Nowadays, it is protected by the IPHAN since 28th of April of 1950.

The Otoni family's house is today a regional museum. Total construction area is 36,000 square meters and the house is a reproduction of an eighteenth century residence and has pictures of old Serro, 225 rare collectibles and 11 panels of informative books and texts. It shelters a historical collection, composed by a large quantity of antique furniture, panels, maps, photographs, paintings, lamps, objects of daily use, and an exhibition hall with remaining of the old Igreja da Purificação.

Chácara do Barão do Serro

The Chácara do Barão do Serro (Country House of the Baron of Serro) was the residence of Baron José Joaquim Ferreira Rabelo. It has a unique U-shape with a patio and kitchen in steatite (soap stone). The building stands out from the architectural style of the town because of its shape and style, which was built keeping in mind the taste of the times. The country house, acquired by the IEPHA in 1975, was restored and has sheltered activities made by agencies of education, culture and tourism, such as courses, expositions. Also, the building has been used by the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism and Culture, and by the Fundação Chácara do Barão.

Casa do General Carneiro

Located in the João Pinheiro Square, it is a two-storey house built in the early 19th century. Born in the house, Antonio Ernest Gomes Carneiro was known as “Herói da Lapa”. He was one of the most eminent figures of the Brazilian army history, recognized for its ideas and bravery.

A true colonial building, the Casa do General Carneiro, or General Carneiro’s House, is characterized for the extensive rock walls that surround the structure and give support to it. The house still keeps its original structure, and is encircled for some hills and an extensive lawn, providing a stunning view of the architecture, engineering and landscape of Brazil colony.

Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek

Brazil's ex-president, Juscelino Kubitschek spent his infancy in this house. Today, it is a tourist destination and is open for visits.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

Nossa Senhora do Carmo's Church was listed by IPHAN, Brazil's National Historical and Artistical Heritage Institute, as a landmark in 1949. It was built by the Third Carmelite Order with a polychrome wooden medallion in its façade. The interiors show a distinct Baroque influence, with a prominent Rococo style.

Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos

Bom Jesus de Matosinhos Church is the most famous of all churches, found in the town's square, and was built in the 18th century by the Fraternities of Saint Benedict and Our Lady of Mercies.

Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição

This was the first Mother Church built in 1713. Simple in its design originally, over the years, the church has been embellished with wooden engravings, ceiling paintings and other images.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário

This is the church where the famous Festa do Rosário is held every July.

Capela de Santa Rita

For over 200 years, Capela de Santa Rita (Saint Rita’s Chapel), built on the town's highest hill during the 18th century, has been telling the towns people accurate time every day from the top of its tower.

Festa do Rosário

The Festa do Rosário or the Festival of the Rosary is the most well-known traditional festival, celebrated with great pomp and fervour. The locals put up stalls and shows with folkloric manifestations, and the streets wear a colourful look during the festival throughout the first week of July. Some striking features of the festival are the different types of Congado - dance forms brought to Brazil by the slaves, some examples being the Marujada, the Reinado, the Caboclada and the Catopés.

Districts within Serro

Serro is found in the region of the Espinhaco Mountains, which traverse through Central Brazil from the north to the south. The sprawling landscape is richly populated with peaks, one of the prime examples being the Itambé Peak. The Jequintinhonha River, one of Brazil's largest rivers, runs through the plateaus between these mountains.

Amidst and around the mountains, you will find almost all kinds of water bodies - streams, waterfalls, fillets, lakes. Clear streams run through these stretches of savannah and green fields. Waterfalls are found almost everywhere in these mountainous regions. The water is mostly pure and clear brown in colour and is usually cold. Droughts are seen during winters, which decrease the quantity of water, but the temperature remains cool through the year. Some well-known waterfalls in and around Serro are Malheiros and Cascatinha, with some of the best ones found in nearby Maize Green and Sao Goncalo.

Adventure sports for those looking to commune with nature are plenty, ranging from hiking, riding, cycling, mountain climbing, rappelling, and even horseback riding. And for those who prefer their own company, solitary treks can also be arranged. All you have to do is contact the locals operating these trips and treks on the outskirts of Serro.

Milho Verde

Milho Verde is situated around 25 km from Serro and 32 km from Diamantina. The origin of the place's name (Green Corn), however, remains a mystery even today. One local legend has it that it was given the name to honour a former local resident, Manuel Rodrigues Milho Verde. Another one says the bandeirantes were gifted ears of green corn by the Indians to reach this very region, hence the name. With a history as green as this, Milho Verde promises to be a colourful place to visit - and it is!

The local population, consisting of both urban and rural areas, is well short of 2000 people, so there's more unspoiled land to cover for the go green tourist. Not surprising then that the main economic activity of the region is tourism, with the rural areas contributing their bit with livestock and agriculture. As mentioned before, the main tourist attractions of Milho Verde are waterfalls and trekking trails, which along with the warm and welcoming local population make this a must visit for a tourist who makes his way towards Brazil.

State Park of the Pico do Itambé

The world famous Itambé Park is liberally sprinkled with waterfalls, streams and exclusive vegetation. The springs and origins of the rivers of the Jequitinhonha and Doce basins are found here. The Itambé Peak is one of the landmarks of Minas Gerais. Diverse and rich flora and fauna are found in these regions, with some of the animals already making it to the official list of endangered species, most notable being the puma and the maned wolf.

Serro Destination Guide