Ministério do Turismo

Goiás

The City of Goiás, or Old Goiás, as it is also known, has one of the most splendid architectural and cultural patrimony of Brazil. Because of that, the historical center was named Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001. Its calm streets keep the original stone pavement and the historical buildings of the 18th Century show a colonial architecture with the simplicity and few baroque influences as their main characteristic. 

The origin of the city is linked with the Brazilian territory exploration done by the exploratory expedition members from São Paulo (named 'bandeirantes'), who, in the 18th Century, went through the interior of the country searching for natural riches. During the trip, they built provisional villages for gold miners. Goiás started from one of these villages. In 1727, expedition member Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva created small Arraial de Sant'Anna close to Vermelho River. Around 1750, already with the name of Vila Boa de Goiás, it became the capital of recently created Province of Goiás. Almost two centuries after that, in 1937, in the republic period, the state administration was transferred to the new capital of the State: Goiânia. Goiás allows a direct contact with the history by simply walking on the streets, going into churches, admiring old buildings, visiting the house where its most honorable resident lived, poetess Cora Coralina, or visiting Bandeiras Museum. Either in candies or in religious manifestations, as the impressive Fogareu Procession during the Holy Week, the local cultural traditions are kept. And for those who love the nature, there are hikes in beautiful Serra Dourada environmental reserve, located in the city's neighboring area.

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Events
The Fogaréu Procession
It happens on the Wednesday of the Holy Week. In this day, at midnight, the farricocos, men dressed in long tunics and carrying lit torches, go through the streets of the city. The lights are turned off and the sound of the drums give rhythm to this march, which is accompanied by the population. On Good Friday, it is performed the theatrical display of The Passion of Christ in the open air.
City facts
State: Goiás
Region: Midwest
Population: 27,120 inhabitants
City code: (62)

Climate

Distances:
Goiânia: 140 km
Brasilia: 320 km
São Paulo: 1,090 km
Rio de Janeiro: 1,510 km

Useful Numbers:
Tour information - telephone number:????????
How to get there
The capital of the State of Goiás, Goiânia, 140 km from the City of Goiás, offers an airport with flights to the main cities of the country. There are also buses from the capital to the City of Goiás.

Main access roads:
From Goiânia: GO-070

Airport
Santa Genoveva Airport, in Goiânia.
Telephone number: 55 62 265-1500

Bus station
Telephone number: 55 62 371-1510
Services
Banks
The City of Goiás has few bank agencies, but of the main government and private banks. Some places accept credit cards.
Related links

Agepel – City of Goiás
www.agepel.goias.gov.br/municipios_goianos/goias.htm

Brazilian Historical Cities - Goiás
www.cidadeshistoricas.art.br/goias/index.htm

Attractions
Churches
They were almost all constructed in the 18th Century and reveal a simple style. Boa Morte Church (1779) is the only one that shows typical baroque elements on its façade. It houses the Museu de Arte Sacra (the Sacred Art Museum), with the pictures of Veiga Valle as one of its highlights, a local sculptor who lived in the 19th Century. The following churches: São Francisco de Paula Church (1761), N.S. do Carmo Church (1786), N.S. da Abadia Church (1790) and Santa Bárbara (1780) should also be visited.

Museums and historical buildings
Bandeiras Museum is in the tall building of 1761, where the prison, the chamber room and the justice have been once. It has objects used during the gold exploitation. Conde dos Arcos Palace (1755), with a small museum, was built to accommodate the Province governor. Every year, on the city anniversary date, the palace houses the government administration, transferred from Goiânia for some days. Other important buildings are: XX Quartermaster (1747), the Bishop House and the fountains of Boa Morte and Largo da Carioca.

Cora Coralina's House
The big house where Cora Coralina (1889 - 1985) lived, one of the most admired Brazilian poetesses, is located at one end of the bridge over Vermelho River. It is one of the first construction of Goiás, and a typical house from the 18th Century. The place inspired some of the beautiful poems written by Cora Coralina. There is a small museum in the house to honor this artist from Goiás.

Candies
One old tradition from the City of Goiás are the alfenins, candies of Portuguese origin, prepared with sugar and manioc flour, to which nice animal shapes are given. The crystallized fruits prepared in the city are also very famous. Some confectioners open the doors of their houses so the visitors can have a chance to observe them while they work.

Events
Fogaréu Procession
It happens on Holy Wednesday. On this day, at midnight, men wearing long tunics carrying lit torches (the 'farricocos') go through the city streets. The city lights are off and the sound from the drums set the pace of the procession, which is followed by the population. On Good Friday, Christ's Suffering scene has an open-air acting representation.

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