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Santa Teresa

Best of Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa Essentials

Santa Teresa, Brazil's first Italian settlement, preserves its heritage through 19th-century architecture and traditional cuisine. Located in the mountainous Atlantic Forest, the town is a hub for biodiversity research, centered around the Mello Leitão Museum founded by naturalist Augusto Ruschi. Visitors can explore high-altitude viewpoints like Vale do Canaã and Goiapaba-Açu, which offer vistas of the rugged landscape, or visit the numerous waterfalls and bird sanctuaries that earned the region its reputation as the land of hummingbirds.

Santa Teresa Essentials — Map
A

Pavilhão Ornitologia

Part of the Professor Mello Leitão Biology Museum, this pavilion focuses on regional bird species, particularly the hummingbirds studied by naturalist Augusto Ruschi.
B

Jardim Rupestre

A specialized botanical section within the Mello Leitão Museum featuring rock-dwelling plants, cacti, and succulents native to the Atlantic Forest's rocky outcrops.
C

Mirante do Vale do Canaã

Overlooks the valley settled by Italian immigrants in 1874. The site is a significant cultural landmark mentioned in the classic Brazilian novel Canaã by Graça Aranha.
D

Rampa de Vôo Livre Amaury Fernandes

A launch site for paragliding and hang gliding located at an elevation of approximately 900 meters, providing panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
E

Mirante do Goiapaba-Açu

Situated at 1,193 meters within a protected state park, this viewpoint offers 360-degree vistas extending to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caparaó mountains.
F

Praça Augusto Ruschi

The town's central square, named after the renowned naturalist, serves as a hub for local events and features traditional landscaping.
G

Igreja Matriz de Santa Teresa

The city's main Catholic church, built in the early 20th century, stands as a testament to the religious heritage of the Italian immigrant community.
H

Cantina Italiana

A traditional restaurant serving regional Italian-Brazilian dishes, reflecting the culinary legacy of the 1874 immigrant settlement.
I

Cachoeira do Retiro

A natural waterfall located near the town center, featuring a small pool suitable for swimming.
J

Gruta do Ruschi

A grotto and sanctuary located on the outskirts of town, often associated with local religious devotion.
Pavilhão Ornitologia
Walk
Jardim Rupestre
Drive
Mirante do Vale do Canaã

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