Natividade: Sanctuary, Festivals and Places to Visit

In Natividade, religious history and local festival traditions meet places to visit nearby. The Santuário Diocesano Nossa Senhora da Natividade is in the heart of the city; other attractions are outside the center. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between the city’s history, festivals and destinations in the surrounding area.

Sanctuary and Railway History

The Santuário Diocesano Nossa Senhora da Natividade is a much-visited place of prayer. Its history dates back to the Igreja Matriz, which began operating on July 25, 1845. The Santuário was elevated to diocesan sanctuary status in 2003. The Estação Ferroviária de Natividade had already opened in 1886. These dates mark different historical milestones: the start of operations at the former Igreja Matriz, the opening of the railway station and the sanctuary’s later elevation.

Festivals and Local Culture

Holy Week includes a performance of the Passion and death of Christ in a public square, involving more than 100 actors. On Corpus Christi, a procession takes place with street carpets. The traditional September festival includes the Hora de Arte theatrical performance on September 6, dedicated to local culture. Before your trip, check the dates for that year’s edition and the current program.

EXFANA is also part of the events calendar in the municipality of Natividade: the agricultural exhibition and fair has a tradition spanning more than 20 years. The Sabores de Natividade Gastronomic Festival takes place in the first week of May in a public square. If you are traveling for one of these events, it is a good idea to check the specific dates in advance.

River and Destinations in the Surrounding Area

At the municipal level, the Rio Carangola flows through the area: it enters the municipality at the border with Porciúncula and crosses its southern part. This geographical information refers to the municipality of Natividade, not just the city center.

Nearby, you will find destinations with a variety of attractions. Fazenda Mutuca is described as having waterfalls and a camping area; this information comes from a 2017 municipal description. Balneário Campestre Clube is 2 km from Natividade’s city center. A 2017 municipal description mentions the Cachoeira João Fernandes, with more than 1 km of rapids, as well as Moinho Antigo. Before visiting, check what is currently accessible or available for use. Pesque e Pague Ponte Nova has several ponds for sport fishing.

Sítio dos Milagres is 6 km from the city center, along the road to Ourânia; the route is paved. It features an exact replica of the house where Mary lived, described as unique in the world. Check road conditions before setting out. Two historic fazendas round out the destinations in the surrounding area: Fazenda São José was built around 1820, and Fazenda Taboca around 1850. Fazenda Taboca is also said to offer walks, visits to the farm buildings, fee-based fishing and swimming in the rapids. Check in advance whether these activities are currently available; the existence of a historic building alone does not indicate whether it can be accessed today.

Travel Information

The paved state highway RJ-220 is one of the roads serving Natividade. Here, too, it is a good idea to check road conditions before setting off. When choosing where to stay, consider whether you mainly want to experience the sanctuary and local festival traditions or set aside time for destinations nearby. For events, specific dates matter; for places to visit described in older sources, it is also worth checking on current access and use.

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For the main travel overview: Rio De Janeiro.