The rich colonial houses of the center, the parks and farms of the rural area, and the gigantisms of the “City of exaggerations”
Thanks to the huge public telephone Padre Miguel Squareto the gigantisms of Square of exaggerations and souvenirs of disproportionate size, Itu It still retains its reputation as the “City of Exaggerations” – a nickname earned in the 1960s due to the character Simplício, by Italian comedian Francisco Flaviano de Almeida. But the city just over 1h30 from Sao Paulo also has historical importance, identifiable in the beautiful architectural complex of the centre. In the rural area, parks, farms and railway lines entertain tourists on weekends. Below, see options for day trips to Itu:
1. Historic Center
In the city center, the historic houses and large number of churches date back to the end of the colonial period, when Itu it was one of the richest villages in São Paulo. It is preferable to walk around on foot, as the alleys maintain the original dimensions of when there were only horses and carts and can become crowded even with little traffic (especially during the week).
That’s a good start Patronage Church, from 1820, in Praça Regente Feijó. The temple houses the tomb of Mother Maria Theodora Voiron, a missionary and educator in the process of beatification. Heading towards the centre, just turn right onto Travessa do Carmo and head towards Praça da Independência to find the baroque Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmelfrom 1791. The ceiling and walls were painted in oil, a rare technique in the colonial period, by Father Jesuíno de Monte Carmelo.
From Praça da Independência, just walk along Rua Barão do Itaim to reach the Republican Museum. The building in which the museum is located hosted the Itu Convention on 18 April 1873, a movement that created the republican party of São Paulo which promoted the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889. On the upper floor, a desk used by the former president Prudente de Moraes and a 19th-century English piano are among the rarities. The museum closed for renovation and fire prevention works at the end of 2020 and reopened in May 2023.
A few steps further, Praça Padre Miguel is the home of the Giant traffic light Comes from This is a public telephone, two installations that have contributed to the fame of the “City of exaggerations”. Although it is newer than the surrounding buildings, such as the Parish Church of Our Lady of Candelaria, from 1780, the enormous public telephone is certainly considered a historical attraction by younger visitors. Around the square, small shops sell large souvenirs and Snack bar sells legs, snacks, pastries and giant pieces of pizza.
The Energy Museum is the last stop in the center, located in the block after the square, on Rua Paula Souza. The 1847 house houses the electricity collection, with chandeliers, chandeliers, record players and radios that illustrate the history of energy in the country. Model homes furnished to 1910s, 1930s and 1950s standards show appliances and automobiles from the first half of the 20th century.
2. FAMA Museum and Atelier do Kobra
Rua Padre Bartolomeu Tadei, 09 – Alto
A Marcos Amaro Art Factory ( Museum of Fame ) has occupied the former Companhia de Fiação e Tecelagem São Pedro building since 2018 with a collection of Brazilian art. The textile factory closed its doors in 2003 and four years later the collection of 20th century warehouses was listed. Artist and collector Marcos Amaro set up his studio in the space in 2012 and opened the museum years later.
The collection includes sculptures, paintings, photographs and drawings by big names, such as Hélio Oiticica and Arthur Bispo do Rosário, which are organized in temporary and permanent exhibitions in eight exhibition rooms.
In addition to the rooms, it’s worth taking a break in the Jardim Dona Helena, where guava, avocado, jabuticaba and papaya trees join the works of Tomie Ohtake, Mestre Didi, Carmela Gross and other Brazilian artists. The visit is accompanied by cute animals such as the bem-te-vis and a family of vultures that live in the chimney of the old factory. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Entrance costs R$10, but on Wednesdays entry is free.
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Since February it has been possible to visit part of Eduardo Kobra’s collection, personal articles and clues to his creative process Kobra’s atelier inside HUNGER Museum. Entrance is free and the space opens on the same days and times as the museum.
Kobra has murals spread all over the world and boasts great titles in the urban art panorama, such as having painted the largest graffiti mural in the world: 5,742 square meters at kilometer 35 of Rodovia Castello Branco, in Itapevi.
The space has exposed brick walls, sofas, armchairs, tools scattered on workbenches and, without any surprise, it is very colourful. The decoration, of course, is made with paintings and murals created during his 35-year career.
While you’re there, be sure to check out the mural The kisses by Kobra, which is part of the collection FAME.
3. Bar do Alemão
Rua Paula Souza, 575 – Center
Bar do Alemão is undoubtedly the most traditional restaurant in Milan Itu. Founded in 1902 by the Steiner family, German immigrants, the place was originally a bakery where, after work, the owners welcomed their friends to drink beer and eat horse steak with tomato and onion sauce. The dish ended up becoming popular among friends, and a restaurant was added to the business. In the first decades of the 20th century, l Bar do Alemão It was the first and only place in the interior of São Paulo to sell draft beer, which created loyal customers. Today, what attracts locals most is the filet parmigiana (added to the menu in 1960) served in a family-sized portion, serving four to five people. The dish comes with white rice – chips need to be ordered separately.
4. Praça dos Exageros
Rua José Maria dos Passos, 200 – Vila Padre Bento
To portray the fame of the city, recently revitalized Square of exaggerations It is a park with giant-sized objects and animals. The attraction is aimed at children, who will be able to play among huge chess pieces, ladybugs and ants à la Honey, I shrunk the kids, as well as pencils and tools arranged as slides and other toys. In the midst of all this there are also two dolls of the character of Francisco Flaviano de Almeida, the comedian responsible for the nickname “City of Exaggerations”.
5. Varvito Park
Rua Parque do Varvito, 400 – Parque Nossa Senhora Candelária
OR Varvito Geological Park It was inaugurated in 1995, in an area that previously belonged to a quarry. There it is on display Varvito stone, a name used by geologists to describe a unique sedimentary rock, formed by the succession of layers that mark the years. The rock of Itu it is important from a geological point of view, since it is part of the body of evidence of an extensive ice age, which occurred 280 million years ago, when ice covered the south-eastern region of South America. For safety reasons, the park is not open on rainy days. to rain.
6. Maeda Park
Strada Deputado Archimede Lammoglia (access from km 18)
Maeda Park was once just a fishing spot. In recent years, however, the excellent fishing facility (with equipment rental) has been just one of the attractions of the complex, which features attractions such as swimming pools with waterslides, horseback riding, train rides and cable cars.
Inside the park it is also possible to take guided tours of strawberry greenhouses, a jabuticaba orchard, hundreds of litchi trees, a Japanese garden, water wheels and a ride on platforms suspended from ancient trees. These tours must be booked in advance by calling (11) 2118-6200. The complex also has a guesthouse and a restaurant.
7. Chocolate farm
Every day, from 8.45am to 5.30pm
At Fazenda do Chocolate you can walk among cocoa trees, native forests, ponds, a playground and enclosures for farm animals, such as chickens, peacocks, goats and even llamas. The small shop sells liqueurs, coffee and chocolate produced on the farm. On weekends you can do some additional tours, such as visiting the orchid nursery, taking a train ride to a scenic spot, shopping for indigenous handicrafts in a mini village and having lunch in a country restaurant.
8. Republican train
Inaugurated in December 2020, after fifteen years of construction, the Republican Train is operated by Serra Verde Express, the same company responsible for the famous railway route connecting Curitiba and Morretes, in Paraná. The tour is held in honor of the Itu Convention which took place in the city in 1873, one day after the inauguration of the Ituana Railway. The journey, which lasts 40 minutes and extends over a stretch of just over seven kilometres, mixes rural and urban landscapes between Itu and Jump.
Prices vary depending on transportation and are charged per section. Tickets are on sale on the Serra Verde Express website. The site also offers tours that include, in addition to the train journey, stops for historical visits, parks and meals. Find out more about the floats and the tour here. So, see what to do in Salto during your stopover.
“Experience the Itu passport”
The “passport” is a booklet with five tourist attractions of the city: Praça Padre Miguel (Matriz), Praça dos Exageros, the Municipal Market, the Varvito Geological Park and the Republican Train. At each of these points the visitor will be able to collect his passport and receive a stamp certifying the visit to the place.
Source: Terra
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