Discover Formiga

Formiga’s cultural history can be explored through a variety of places and stories: the Museu Francisco “Nhonhô” Fonseca preserves objects, photographs, works of art and documents relating to the city’s history. The Pelourinho commemorates a defining event of the 19th century, while the Igreja Matriz de São Vicente Férrer is listed as protected cultural heritage. Families can therefore choose from different ways to make their stay a cultural one—from a museum collection to places where history is visible in public spaces.

City history at the Museu Francisco “Nhonhô” Fonseca

The Museu Francisco “Nhonhô” Fonseca opened on June 5, 2003, in the building that once housed Formiga’s railway station. A building with a railway history is now home to a collection dedicated to Formiga’s history. Visitors can choose between self-guided and guided tours. You can decide whether to explore the collection on your own or take a guided tour.

The extensive collection brings together old objects, photographs, works of art and documents. These different records tell the story of Formiga’s past. Works of art add another form of expression to the collection. Families can discover for themselves which of these perspectives interests them most as they explore. If you’re visiting with children, the different kinds of objects can also prompt a conversation about how history can be told.

The Pelourinho and the memory of 1842

The Pelourinho is located at Praça José Barbosa Júnior in Formiga’s Centro. It is a stone pillar in a public place where criminals were punished and put on display. The Pelourinho commemorates the last execution by hanging in Minas Gerais, which took place in Formiga on October 12, 1842. Its connection to this date makes the site a way to engage with a serious chapter in the city’s history.

The story of the execution is very different from the subjects covered by a museum collection or a protected building. For a family stay, it is worth putting this historical context in an age-appropriate perspective and thinking in advance about how you would like to discuss it with children. The focus should be on the specific event and the historical period: the commemoration relates to the event that took place in Formiga on October 12, 1842. Praça José Barbosa Júnior in the Centro also provides a clearly identified reference point within the city.

Protected cultural heritage in Formiga

The Igreja Matriz de São Vicente Férrer is listed as protected cultural heritage in Formiga. Its address is given as Praça São Vicente Férrer nº 27, Centro. This makes the site easy to identify when finding your way around Formiga. Its status as protected cultural heritage makes the church another point of interest for travelers interested in the city’s cultural heritage. It complements the museum’s collection and the historical memory associated with the Pelourinho with a distinct focus on architectural heritage.

When choosing a holiday apartment for a culture-focused stay, you can take the places and addresses mentioned here into account. Consider which aspects you would like to focus on: the diverse collection and the choice between a self-guided or guided tour, the historical subject associated with the Pelourinho, or the church’s protected cultural heritage. The addresses in the Centro provide specific reference points to help you orient yourself, without combining the different sites into a single route.

Discover more destinations

Other destinations include João Monlevade, Três Marias, Jaboticatubas, Passos, Montalvânia, Fazendinha, Ouro Preto and Pôrto Arrepiado.

For the main travel overview: Minas Gerais.