With more than 200 preserved houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, Santana de Parnaíba is considered the "Ouro Preto from São Paulo"—a town rich with history and colonial architecture. Santana was founded in 1580; by 1625 it was the most important point of departure for the bandeirantes.
In 1901, the first hydroelectric power station in South America was built here. Throughout the 20th century, Santana managed to retain its houses and charm while preserving a local tradition: a rural type of samba called "de bumbo," in which the pacing is marked by the zabumba (an instrument usually associated with rhythms from the northeastern states of Brazil). The proximity to a couple of São Paulo’s finest suburbs explains the region’s fine dining. Outdoors lovers feel at home with the canopy-walking and trekking options.
