Brazil's frontier town of Vila Bela knew a short, rich colonial period. The town's history is visible in ruins and quilombos – descendants of slaves who worked in gold mines. Every year the quilombos commemorate their history in a festival with music and dance. Furthermore the region has outdoor activities on offer such as hiking and boat rides.
Ruins of Igreja Matriz da Santíssima Trindade in West Brazil
On Vila Bela's main square stand the ruins of Igreja Matriz da Santíssima Trindade, a baroque church that was constructed in 1769. This historic landmark represents the wealth of the colonial times as well as the tragedy of the slaves who constructed the church with its one-metre thick adobe walls. Only some of the walls remain to be admired.
Adjacent to the ruins is a small, but well set-up museum displaying artefacts of Vila Bela's history as well as some of the original wooden sculptures from the Matriz da Santíssima Church – among which Saint Benedict, the patron saint of the town. The caretaker is happy to explain the town's history and particulars [opening hours: Mon-Sat 8-11am / 14-17pm].
Brazilian Quilombos – Descendants of Slaves
The slaves' descendants are called quilombos and many of them live in Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade. They make up a large proportion of the local population and continue to live in accordance with their own beliefs and traditions. Their history of slavery is yearly relived during a festival in July [third week], during which dances such as the "Danza de Congo" and "Danza de Llorar" ["Dance of Congo" and "Dance of Crying"] are performed.
The Dance of Congo is performed in honour of Saint Benedict and is a ritual in which historic scenes are re-enacted. The Dance of Crying commemorates the sacrifices of slave women for their husbands and sons. During the times of slavery women would dance for the plantation owners and sell themselves when their sons or husbands were held captive or severely punished, so they would be set free.
Outdoor Activities at Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade
The Guaporé River is home to pink river dolphins, otters and capybaras and the best way to watch wildlife is to arrange a boat trip. The nearby Parque Estadual Serra de Ricardo Franco offers plenty of opportunities for hiking and canyoning which, depending on the trail, can be done independently or organised. More information on outdoor activities around Vila Bela can be found in this article.
Vila Bela has no Tourist Information but the town's hotels have information on the park, trails and ways to organise boat trips. Another option is to contact Clézio Freire, a local inhabitant. He has no travel agency but is keen on helping visitors to find guides or to arrange boat rides. He can be contacted by:
- phone [65] 8115-0038 / [65] 3259-1006
- email: clezio.freire@vol.com.br
Tourism at Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade
Vila Bela is easily reached by road from Cuiabá and has several cultural and adventure activities on offer. Learn about the region's history by visiting the town's museum, or enjoy the yearly quilombos festival. The Guaporé Valley and the State Park of Serra de Ricardo Franco both offer opportunities for outdoor activities and wildlife spotting.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
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