Cidade de Goiás

A UNESCO World Heritage colonial town in central Brazil, with cobbled streets, baroque churches, and the house of poet Cora Coralina. Waterfalls and mountain parks lie just outside town.

Cidade de Goiás, formerly called Vila Boa and known locally as Goiás Velho, lies in Goiás state in central Brazil, at the foot of the Vermelho River valley and the Serra Dourada. It grew during the gold rush of 1727 and served as the state capital until 1937. After the capital moved, the town was left almost untouched. In 2001, its historic center was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cobbled slopes, colonial houses with white walls and colorful windows, more than ten 18th-century churches, and fountains make up an old town that is best explored on foot.

Core highlights include the Cora Coralina House, the Bandeiras Museum, the Sacred Art Museum at Boa Morte Church, the Cauda Fountain, and the Palace of the Count of Arcos. At dusk, climb Santa Bárbara Hill to watch the sunset. Outside town, you will find Andorinhas Falls and Serra Dourada State Park.

The climate has distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season, May–Sep, is sunny and rain-free, with cool mornings and evenings, making it the best time to visit. The rainy season, Nov–Mar, brings afternoon thunderstorms, but the waterfalls run at full flow. The midnight torch procession on Wednesday of Holy Week is the most famous event, and an international environmental film festival is often held in winter.

Transport: from Goiânia, it is about 2–2.5 hours by car (about 140 km), with daily long-distance buses. Brasília is about 320 km away. The old town can be explored on foot, but the outlying sights require a car or a charter. Plan to stay 2 days. Be sure to try empadão goiano, a local savory pie, and traditional candied fruit.

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