Discover Itajubá: Leisure and City History

Itajubá combines outdoor leisure with a city history that unfolds through churches, historic houses and a former railway station. At Horto Florestal Anhumas, sports and leisure facilities take center stage. Elsewhere, buildings tell stories of former residents, changing uses and several phases of construction. You can shape your stay around whether you want to focus mainly on outdoor activities or include cultural history in your trip.

Leisure at Horto Florestal Anhumas

Horto Florestal Anhumas is open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Its facilities include a multi-purpose sports court, an outdoor fitness area, slides, and changing rooms for men and women. This brings together a range of leisure options in one place: sports, exercise on fitness equipment and slides offer different ways to spend your time. If you plan to spend time outdoors during your stay, you can include these options in your daily plans. Group visits can be arranged by calling (35) 9-9888-6206.

Houses and churches with a history of their own

Casa Rosada brings together architectural history and the biography of a former resident. Built in the early 20th century, the house was the residence of Wenceslau Braz Pereira Gomes, president of Brazil from 1914 to 1918. Casa Rosada is protected by IEPHA. Its doors and windows are original, as is part of its furnishings. Those interested in the history of the house can explore both its connection to Wenceslau Braz and its preserved architectural features.

The present-day Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Soledade was inaugurated in 1934. It was preceded by four earlier churches, built in 1819, 1832, 1873 and 1912. This sequence offers a glimpse into several phases of construction, while distinguishing the predecessor buildings from the church that stands today. Another historical and artistic layer was added in 1957, when Dutch artist Henk Asperslagh painted the church’s interior, which has been preserved ever since.

From railway station to museum

The Museu Municipal Wenceslau Braz is located in central Itajubá, in a railway station built in 1930. Its collection includes belongings of relatives of former prominent figures in Itajubá society. Two aspects of the city’s history therefore come together here: the building’s former use as a railway station and the keepsakes that now belong to the museum. If the museum is an important stop on your itinerary, you could consider a central location when looking for a vacation rental.

The Prédio Central da UNIFEI also tells a story of changing uses. Coronel Antônio José Rennó had the building constructed as a manor house. In 1894, it became a rectory; in 1912, it was sold to Dr. Theodomiro Carneiro Santiago so that it could house the Instituto Eletrotécnico e Mecânico de Itajubá (IEMI). These uses differ markedly: the building’s original function as a manor house was followed by a religious role and then a connection to the establishment of the institute.

The present-day Mercado Municipal building was constructed in 1954 on the initiative of the mayor at the time, physician Dr. Vicente Vilela Viana. Alongside the older building and usage histories, it represents a more recent chapter in Itajubá’s past. This gives you different cultural themes to consider when planning your trip: the history of individual buildings, the development of the church, or the connection between the railway station and the museum. If you prefer outdoor activities, Horto Florestal Anhumas offers a different way to plan your day. You can look for a vacation rental in Itajubá based on the focus that best suits your trip.

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