Manhuaçu

The name of this municipality takes its root from the indigenous word ‘mayguaçu’, meaning ‘big river’, a designation given by the Indians who first inhabited the area. After the decline of the Gold Cycle, occupation of Manhuaçu intensified; livestock farming spread to provincial parts of the state and, through coffee production, urban growth developed in the second half of the 19th century. During the last century communities of Italian and Arab families moved to Manhuaçu, widening the ethnic diversity of an area that had begun with the arrival of Swiss, French and German settlers. The city also stands out because of its natural assets, such as the Balneário Sete with a 20 metre free fall, and its apiculture (beekeeping) practises, which play a fundamental role in the area’s developing agro-tourism. The churches of Matriz do Bom Pastor, and Padroeiro São Lourenço are highlights of the city’s local heritage.