Located just 90 kilometers from São Paulo, Fazenda Concórdia is one of the oldest rural buildings in Brazil. Records confirm the existence of its headquarters since 1595, making the property a witness to Brazilian history, from the colonial period to the present day. It is even considered the oldest farm in São Paulo.
Concórdia is located in Itu and has been home to sugarcane and coffee plantations, witnessed the scars of slavery, and welcomed Italian immigrants in search of a new life. Currently, the farm is part of the rural tourism itinerary in the interior of São Paulo, offering visitors a true lesson in Brazilian history.
Photo: Vladimir Benincasa/Heritage, Cities, and Territories Research Group
The legacy of one of Brazil’s oldest farms
The history of Fazenda Concórdia began in the first century of European colonization, when the city of São Paulo was nothing more than a small village. Initially, the site served as a support point for the bandeirantes who were heading to the hinterland.
It was built using typical colonial techniques, rammed earth and wattle and daub. To this day, traces of the original walls can still be found at the headquarters. In addition, the space preserves other historical structures, such as granaries, yards, and the old slave quarters.
In 1800, the farm already covered 3,000 hectares and had hundreds of thousands of coffee trees maintained by slave labor. Decades later, with the transition to immigrant labor, the property incorporated technological innovations for the period. For example, water-powered mills and turbines that generated their own energy.
Photo: Vladimir Benincasa/Heritage, Cities, and Territories Research Group
How to visit the Concórdia Farm in Itu?
Currently, the property offers guided tours that connect its different phases, from the daily lives of the workers to the customs of the coffee elite. The experience is completed with a typical wood-fired stove lunch and tasting of coffee produced on site.
Fazenda Concórdia is located in the rural area of Itu, in the Pedregulho neighborhood. Access is via the Dom Gabriel Paulino Bueno Couto Highway (km 84) and then the Estrada da Concórdia. It is recommended to schedule your visit directly with the local administration, as tours may vary depending on the day or number of participants. Just get in touch via their official Instagram profile!
Photo: Vladimir Benincasa/Heritage, Cities, and Territories Research Group