Domingos Martins is a city in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Apart from being a tourist destination on its own, it is a perfect base for a visit to the Pedra Azul State Park.

Understand

Known as the “City of the Green” because of the exuberant vegetation of Atlantic forest around it, Domingos Martins is the most notable destination in the mountainous region of Espírito Santo. It sits 542 meters above sea level, and within its borders lie mountains of up to 2000 meters, amongst which is the well-known Pedra Azul.

Lutheran Church and Dr. Arthur Gerhardt square during Christmas time

A salient feature in the history of the municipality is the presence of Pomeranian immigrants, who came from a region that is now part of Germany and Poland. Many still speak Pomeranian in the region, although today it is thought to be extinct in their homeland. Because it was colonized mainly by Germanic immigrants, Domingos Martins still has characteristically Germanic architecture and cuisine. This makes it a top tourist destination for Capixabas, as those born in Espírito Santo are called.

Domingos Martins is a town with excellent infrastructure to receive visitors, who mostly go there during the winter, when the local thermometers get to drop as low as to 0ºC (32°F). The town hosts many cultural attractions, including the well-known Sommerfest in the summer and the Festival de Inverno de Domingos Martins in the winter. The combination of the natural beauty of the Pedra Azul State Park, the hospitality of its people, and the colonial architecture grants a special charm to the city.

Tourist information

• Casa da Cultura, President Vargas street, 531, ☏ +55 27 3268-2550. Information about Domingos Martins and the surrounding region. 

Get in

By plane

Vitória Airport (VIX) - also known as Eurico Salles Airport - in the capital city of Vitória, is the closest airport to Domingos Martins. It receives daily flights from most state capitals in the country. Among the main airlines serving the airport are LATAM and Gol. A number of smaller carriers also serve the airport, including Azul, TEAM, and TRIP.

By bus

• Águia Branca, ☏ +55 800 725 1211. The trip to Vitória takes 1 hour, and as the price for the round-trip is around R$ 38 (March '23). 

By car

Domingos Martins is 50 km (31 miles) from Vitória, on the BR-262 highway, in the Vitória-Belo Horizonte direction. The other access way to the town is the BR-101 highway.

Get around

Domingos Martins is best explored on foot. A car might be needed though for a visit to the Pedra Azul State Park.

See

Pedra Azul (Blue Rock)

Apart from the Germanic architecture, some places are very worth a visit:

• Pedra Azul State Park — The main attraction of this 12 km² park is its 1909 m high peak, Pedra Azul (Blue Rock), which got its name due to the blue tonality reflected on the rock at some moments of the day.
• Kautsky Institute. — An ecological reserve where orchids, bromeliads and begonias can be found among other plants all being cared for by one of the foremost orchid experts in the country, Roberto Anselmo Kautsky. 
• Lutheran Church — It is a national monument dating from 1887. It was the first Lutheran Church with a tower built in Brazil. During the Imperial Government in Brazil it was prohibited to build tower in temples which were not catholic. A harvest thanksgiving festival, still known by its German name of Erntedankfest, is held in June in the square in front of the church.
• Museu Histórico (Historical Museum), Presidente Vargas street (at Casa da Cultura), ☏ +55 27 3268-2550. It shows the history of the German and Italian colonization in Espírito Santo, and also provides tourists with information about the region. In addition to the museum, there is a monument honoring the original settlers at the town's main square. 

Do

Festivals

Some of the many Domingos Martins' annual festivals are:

• Sommerfest — It is the Festival of the German Immigration, always in the summer, attracting a great number of visitors to the area. In January/February.
• Festa do Vinho (Wine Festival) — In July.
• Festival de Inverno de Domingos Martins (Domingos Martins Winter Festival). — In July/August. 
• Pommerfest — It is the Festival of the Pomeranian Immigration. In September.
• Blumenfest — It is the Flowers Festival. In October.

Eco-tourism and sports

Many outdoor options are available in Domingos Martins, amongst them:

• Hiking trips through the Atlantic forest
• Bathing at the waterfalls
• Rafting at the rapids of the Jucu river

Following is a list of local companies that organize such activities:

• Emoções Radicais, Rua João Baptista Wernersbach, 194 (Rua do Lazer), ☏ +55 27 3268-2165. 
• Rio da Montanha, Avenida Senador Jefferson Aguiar (Agrotur Center), ☏ +55 27 3225-3613. 

Buy

Dr. Arthur Gerhardt statue

• Feira de Artesanato Cidade do Verde, Dr. Arthur Gerhardt square. From 10 to 17. A handicraft fair on weekends and holidays. 
• Rua do Lazer (Leisure street), João Baptista Wernersbach street. In addition to handicrafts, many shops sell souveniers, German pies, sweets, cookies, bread like the famous Pomeranian Mijlchabroud, Käseschmier, Apfelstrudel, wines and homemade liqueurs. 

Eat

Most restaurants in Domingos Martins are specialized in German cuisine. A concentration of restaurants can be found at the following places:

• Agrotur Center, Av. Senador Jefferson de Aguiar. A complex with restaurants, bars, beer halls, and live music from Thursday to Saturday. 
• Rua do Lazer (Leisure street), João Baptista Wernersbach street. Many bars, restaurants and coffee shops. 

Moreover, an exhaustive list of places to eat can be found at the municipality website [1] .

Drink

• Agrotur Center, Av. Senador Jefferson de Aguiar. A complex with restaurants, bars, beer halls, and live music from Thursday to Saturday. 
• Rua do Lazer (Leisure street), João Baptista Wernersbach street. Many bars, restaurants and coffee shops. 

Connect

The telephone area code for Domingos Martins is 27 (as well as in central and northern parts of Espírito Santo).

Go next

• Vitória — The capital of the state of Espírito Santo, famous for its bay, beaches and nightlife.
• Vila Velha — Famous for Convento da Penha (a 16th-century hilltop Franciscan convent), and the beaches of Praia da Costa, Itapuã, and Coqueiral de Itaparica.
• Guarapari — A popular beach resort town. Famous for its lively ambiance, with many clubs and beach parties, especially during the summer months.
• Santa Teresa — To get a taste of a town colonized by Italian immigrants.
• Itaúnas — Famous for its dunes and forró, a Northeastern Brazilian dance.
• Rio de Janeiro — World-known city famous for its breathtaking landscape and annual carnival.