The Paraíba Valley was one of the major players in São Paulo’s economy during the 19th century, due to the coffee cycle. The region was home to some of the richest and most influential cities in the state of São Paulo, where the coffee barons built luxurious estates and mansions to perpetuate their power. So if you’re looking to visit historic cities, there’s no better destination in the interior of São Paulo.
Although the luxuries are long gone, the Paraíba Valley continues to enchant travelers with its immeasurable historical heritage. Its cities preserve centuries-old churches, cobblestone streets and historic farms that witnessed the heyday of the “black gold” and retain remnants of its glory to this day.
SP’s historic cities: a journey back to the golden age of coffee
Bananal
The town had the largest coffee production in the Paraíba Valley and the second largest in the state of São Paulo, and was an economic powerhouse in the 19th century. Bananal was so rich that the coffee barons had to mint their own currency for the town, since Brazil’s paper money was not enough for so many payments.
Such wealth brought to the city several luxurious mansions and estates, which hosted large parties for the coffee elite. The coffee boom has passed, but you can still take guided tours of the local buildings, such as Fazenda dos Coqueiros, to get a closer look at the local history.
🚘 345 kilometers from São Paulo
Sands
The municipality received the first coffee seedlings in the state of São Paulo, being a forerunner in the cultivation of the grain. During the 19th century, Areias achieved such wealth that it attracted illustrious personalities of the time, such as Princess Isabel. The regent was a regular visitor to the town and even held a ball there to celebrate the abolition of slavery .
Today, Areias is a town that seems to have stood still in time, with cobbled streets and large farms that retain the opulence of the coffee days. Thus, a walk through the town is a journey back to the 19th century, visiting churches, squares and mansions that witnessed the heyday and decline of the Paraíba Valley.
🚘 250 kilometers from São Paulo
Lavrinhas
Although it wasn’t as notorious as its neighbors during the coffee cycle, Lavrinhas is still one of the historic towns in São Paulo that is worth a visit. Located in the Paraíba Valley, it didn’t produce much coffee, but it was part of the routes for transporting the bean to the coast. For this reason, it retains historic architecture and opulent farms from that time.
🚘 225 kilometers from São Paulo
São José do Barreiro
It was one of Brazil’s main coffee producers, hosting large estates in the first half of the 19th century. As such, São José do Barreiro is one of those historic towns with an immeasurable heritage, full of preserved buildings from past centuries.
The Historic Center is home to churches, mansions and old-style houses, many of which have been the setting for soap operas! In addition, farms such as Barra and São Francisco offer guided tours to explore the history of the place.
🚘 253 kilometers from São Paulo
