Morretes
Morretes is a colonial village in Paraná in the South of Brazil. Morretes is a historic city, rich in colonial architecture, with preserved old mansions, which drives local tourism, in addition to having restaurants that offer the typical dish of the region: barreado.
Get in
By train
- Serra Verde Express. One of the few opportunities for train travel in Brazil, this train offers fantastic scenery as it meanders its way down in elevation through the Mata Atlântica. The ride from Curitiba costs $R39, departing at 08:15 and arriving in Morretes at 11:15. From Paranaguá, there is service on weekends and holidays, departing at 14:00 and arriving in Morretes one hour later for R$15.
By bus
There are scheduled bus services from Curitiba. Buses between Curitiba and Morretes take different routes. One of those routes goes through the Mata Atlântico and offers fantastic scenery similar to the train ride.
Get around
The historic town is compact and can be covered on foot.
See
- Church of São Sebastião do Porto de Cima (Igreja de São Sebastião do Porto de Cima). Completed in 1850.
- Matron Church of Nossa Senhora do Porto (Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Porto), Largo da Matriz. This church was built in the first half of the 19th century to accompany a chapel built in 1769. The clock in the tower has functioned continuously since the church's construction.
- Nhundiaquara River (Rio Nhundiaquara). Its name a Tupi-Guarani word meaning "fishing hole", this river cuts through the heart of the village, with picturesque trees and colonial buildings on its banks and an antique bridge restored in 1975. The river was once a prime spot to pan for gold and was thus an early source of wealth for the town.
- São Benedito Church (Igreja de São Benedito), at the corner of Rua Conselheiro Sinimbu and Rua Fernando Amaro. The history of this colonial-style church is unclear, with theories that it was completed anywhere between 1765 and 1884.
Do
- Chácara Reomar, Estrada de Limeira, ☏ +55 41 382-3132. Weekends and holidays. This farm has eight fishing tanks where you pay for what you catch. You can also pick fruit from the orchard or rent horses. There is a snack bar on the premises.
Eat
- Armazém Romanus, Rua Visconde do Rio Branco 141, ☏ +55 41 3462-1500. Serves a lighter version of the local barreado recipe.
- Casarão, Largo Dr. José Pereira, 25 – Centro, ☏ +55 41 3462-1314.
- Madalozo, Almirante Frederico de Oliveira, 16 - Centro, ☏ +55 41 3462-1410.
- Vila Morretes, Rua Visconde do Rio Branco 231, ☏ +55 41 3462-1349. Local specialties, including barreado.
Drink
Since colonial times, Morretes has been a traditional producer of cachaça. The distilleries still use the original alembics, and age the liquor in special wooden barrels for at least seven years, for flavors that are unique to the area. Most of the distilleries can be found on Estrada do Anhaia. Also produced in the area is a special type of banana liquor (pinga de banana).
- Porto Morretes, Estrada Cruz Alta, no number, ☏ +55 41 3462-2743. Producer of organic cachaça, offering tours and a small store. Tours should be reserved in advance.
Sleep
- Pousada Graciosa, Estrada da Graciosa, Km 8 - Porto de Cima, ☏ +55 41 3462-1807, pousadagraciosa@gmail.com.
- Pousada Trilha da Serra, Rua Luiz Brambilla, 64 - Vila Santo Antônio, ☏ +55 41 3462-1071.