Historic center of Jaraguá
Jaraguá was born in the 18th-century gold rush. The old mining settlement left behind colonial churches, old mansions and streets that you can explore on a walk through downtown.
Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church
Built in 1776 by enslaved people, it is one of the oldest buildings in town, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict. It houses the medallion of the Saint Benedict altar. It stands on the Largo do Rosário square, and the road up to the Serra de Jaraguá starts right behind it.
Nossa Senhora da Penha Mother Church
The town's patron saint is Nossa Senhora da Penha (Our Lady of Penha). The first chapel dates from 1748; the church was demolished in 1918 and rebuilt in 1950. The Mother Church (Igreja Matriz) stands on the main square and is the center of the religious festivals, such as the Festa do Divino and the Cavalhadas.
Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church
Construction began in 1828. The building is listed as heritage by the Government of Goiás (State Decree No. 4,943, of 1998) and also serves as a museum (Museu de Nossa Senhora da Conceição).
House of Father Silvestre (House of Culture)
The mansion linked to Father Silvestre Álvares da Silva, who arrived in Jaraguá in 1833 and helped raise the settlement to the status of a town (vila), is listed as heritage by the Government of Goiás (State Decree No. 6,024, of 2004). Today it houses the municipal culture department (Superintendência de Cultura) and the house museum.
| Address | Vigário Álvares, 103, Centro (address provided by the City Hall) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday, 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. |
| Phone | +55 (62) 3326-5159 |
| cultura@jaragua.go.gov.br |
Information checked: September 2026, on the website of the City Hall of Jaraguá.
Old mansions and squares
The streets around the Mother Church and the Largo do Rosário preserve mansions from the colonial period and the 19th century. The Praça do Coreto (bandstand square) is the town's meeting point and hosts the traditional marchinhas (Carnival songs) during Carnival.
Walking route
- Start at the Mother Church, on the main square.
- Continue to the House of Father Silvestre (on a weekday, during opening hours).
- Visit the Conceição Church.
- Finish at the Largo do Rosário and, if you have time, go up the mountain from there.
Church opening times vary; ask at the Nossa Senhora da Penha Parish. See also the history of Jaraguá and the town map.
Sources: Jaraguá City Council (history of the municipality); Legislative Assembly of Goiás ("Isso é Goiás" series); City Hall of Jaraguá (Superintendência de Cultura); register of listed heritage of the State of Goiás, via ipatrimônio. Consulted in September 2026.
Updated on September 24, 2026