Campos do Jordão, situated in the Serra da Mantiqueira 184km/114mi north-east of São Paulo, is one of the most fashionable spas and holiday resorts in Brazil. Both the architectural style of the town and the surrounding countryside have something of a European air. Average temperatures range over the year between 9°C/48°F and 27°C/81°F.
The Winter Festival of Campos do Jordão, which has been held annually in July since 1970, has developed into one of the most interesting cultural events in the state of São Paulo. Its success has been so great that fourteen other communes have now joined in. To the concerts of classical contemporary music have been added film showings, shows and various sporting events.
Campos do Jordão's Concert Hall, built specially for performances during the Winter Festival, is set in a large park (area 350,000sq.m/418,600sq.yds); it is constructed entirely of exposed concrete and glass.
Within the city area are a number of mineral springs: in Abernéssia the Fonte das Amizades and Fonte da Volta Fria, in Avenida Senador Roberto Simonsen the Fonte Simão-Capivari and the Fonte Renato (Parada Damas).
Nearby is one of Brazil's few open-air museums, the Museu Felícia Leirner, constructed in 1978. On the hills and avenues within its area are 78 large sculptures of people and animals presented to the museum by the sculptress.
Small trams ply between Capivari and Abernéssia (12km/7.5mi south-west) and a narrow-gauge railway runs from the Emílio Ribas station, near the park, through the Serra to Santo Antìnio do Pinhal and Pindamonhangaba.
The commune of Arraial do Quilombo, established by runaway slaves in the 19th century round the church of the Imaculada Conceição, is still run on co-operative lines, with all the inhabitants sharing the work and the money it earns. Ditinko Joana, the village elder, is the best known woodcarver in the region.
From the Jaguaribe district Avenida Atalaia runs 8km/5mi to the Gruta dos Crioulos (Cave of the Creoles; area 700sq.m/840sq.yds), said to have served as a hiding-place for slaves who had deserted from the parties of gold-prospectors or run away from fazendas in the area. The same road continues north-west to the 1950m/6400ft high Pedra do Baú, 23km/14mi from Campos do Jordão in the commune of São Bento do Sapucaí.
The road from Capivari to the Horto Florestal (Forest Park; established 1941) of Campos do Jordão runs past picturesque lakes and foaming waterfalls, notably the Véu da Noiva (Bridal Veil) falls. The park (area 8000 hectares/20,000 acres) lies on a hill at altitudes between 1300m/4265ft and 2000m/6560ft, with a river flowing through it and a 10km/6mi lon network of paths to provide access. The trees are mainly conifers and araucarias (parana pine). Within the park there are also fruit orchards and trout farms.
14km/8.7mi from Capivari is the Pico da Itapeva (2020m/6630ft), from the summit of which there are views of the whole Paraíba valley. Near the hill is Lake Itapeva, in which fishing competitions are held.
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Pico da Itapeva, Campos do Jordao
