Fazenda do Secretário, a 19th-century coffee farm with a sumptuous farmhouse in Vassouras, RJ, is one of the historic farms in the Paraíba River Valley that can be visited for the day.
Built in the neoclassical style, the Fazenda do Secretário headquarters were once home to the Baron of Campo Belo. The farm once had 500 thousand coffee trees and 500 thousand coffee trees; 336 slaves lived on in.
The farm is a member of the Preservale Institute, responsible for preserving the memory of the Paraíba River Valley Coffee Cycle, and of Fazendas do Brasil.
Some of the stunning signs of prosperity you'll see during a visit to Fazenda do Secretário are French iron statues in the carefully tended gardens, wall paintings attributed to Catalan artist José Maria Villaronga and an impressive European staircase.
Fazenda do Secretário gardens are highly praised. The Paraíba River Valley climate favors the growth of flowering bushes and a tour of the colorful, peaceful grounds is one of the farm visit highlights.
A rich array of cakes and snacks served with coffee and different kinds of juice is served as part of the visit to the farm.
Visits must be scheduled in advance. More details are available on the Fazenda do Secretário website, under Visitation.
