Gravatá
Gravatá is a city in Pernambuco Interior, Brazil.
Get in
[edit]Gravatá is in the Agreste Region of Pernambuco. Fly to Recife's Guararapes International Airport. The city is only 86 kilometers west of Recife on interstate highway BR-232. The same BR-232 leads to Caruaru (an addition 54-km drive).
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- Alto do Cruzeiro lookout point, with a statue of Christ the Redeemer. Access through the Escadaria da Felicidade (Stairs of Happiness).
- Artisan Station (Estação do Artesão), handicraft and arts center located in the old train station.
- Recife-Gravatá Railway.
- City Memorial (Memorial da Cidade), cultural center and museum located in the old prison building (1911).
- Beautiful historical buildings include:
- Prefeitura (City Hall) (1909)
- Matriz de Sant'Anna Church (1810)
- Cruzeiro Chapel
- Guimarães House, at Rua Rui Barbosa, 126
- Antonio Farias House, at Rua João Pessoa, 12
- Cabral House, at Avenida Governador Agamenon Magalhães, 14
- Chalets in Avenida Joaquim Didier (Chalet Vallois, Chalet Farias, Chalet Amadeu Battar)
- Caranguejo Sugar Plantation, in the district of Uruçu-Mirim (16 km from city center)
- Pernambuco Orchids Center (Centro de Orquídeas de Pernambuco), located at Recanto Baraúna
- Mountains and hills: Serra das Ruças, Serra das Cãibras, Serra da Estrela, Serra do Maroto
- Balneário de Dona Nadir, natural pools
- Cachoeira da Palmeira waterfalls
- Tao wateralls
- Flower, strawberry and pineapple farms
Do
[edit]Festivities
[edit]- Frei Damião Festivities, every May. Walk from the Matriz Nossa Senhora de Santa'Ana Church to the Riacho do Mel Chapel, where Frei Damião celebrate his first mass in Brazil.
- São João Festivities, in late June.
Trekking
[edit]Several exciting trails are available:
- Estrada de Chã-Grande Trail
- Flores Trail (at Fazenda Pedra do Tao, in Camocim district)
- Fonte de Água Mineral Trail (at Fazenda Pedra do Tao, in Camocim district)
- Karawatá Trail (at Serra do Maroto)
- Palmeira Trail (at Sitio da Palmeira)
- Pedra do Tao Trail (at Fazenda Pedra do Tao, Camocim district)
- Três Vendas Trail (at Sítio Três Vendas)
- Trilhos Trail (at Fazenda Canaã)
- Mocó Stone Park (Parque de Pedras do Mocó)
Train Tunnels: 14 train tunnels are located in the Serra das Ruças mountains. Russinhas village is a pineapple-producing community.
Adventure Sports
[edit]- Cascavel Train Bridge (19th century), built by the British. Extreme sports. Rappel.
- Pedra Branca (75 meters). Alpinism, rappel, free flight.
- Pedra Dourada
- Pedra do Tao. Rappel, climbing, orchids.
Buy
[edit]- Furniture.
- Handicrafts.
- Fresh flowers, strawberries and pineapple.
- Desserts: Doce de Leite and Garra Sertaneja.
Eat
[edit]- Local traditional dishes include buchada, sarapatel and galinha cabidela.
- Gravatá is also famous for its fondue restaurants.
- Desserts: Doce de Leite and Garra Sertaneja.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Casa Grande Gravatá , BR-232, Km 82, tel.: +55 81 3533-0920 and +55 81 3465-3011
- Fazenda Céu Aberto [dead link], Estrada Velha de Chã Grande, km 3, tel.: +55 81 9126-9600
- Highlander [http://www.hotelhighlander.com.br%5Bdead+link%5D]], Estrada de Chã Grande, tel.: +55 81 3515-1517 and +55 81 3424-3838
- Portal de Gravatá , BR-232, km 82, tel.: +55 81 3533-0288 and +55 81 3227-0345
- Spa Oásis , Fazenda Sampaio, R. Duarte Coelho, tel.: +55 81 3533-0380 and +55 81 9972-0990
- Sempre Verde/Evergreen Experiences & Horse Trekking [dead link], ecotourism, birdwatching, 12 km from central Gravatá, 800 metres above sea level, tel.: +55 81 3533-7524 / +55 81 9958-3861.