About us | Paty do Alferes

Tracing the History of Paty do Alferes

In the Center-South Fluminense, in the tourist region of Vale do Café, lies the charming municipality of Paty do Alferes, 118 km from the capital Rio de Janeiro. The city is part of the old Caminho Novo of the Estrada Real, and it is from there that the Emperor's Path begins. Its name combines the military rank of Alferes with the word Pati, an indigenous term for a type of palm in the region. Paty do Alferes has been called Roça de Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Serra Acima, Freguesia de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, and Vila de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Paty do Alferes. Its colonization began in the late 17th century, and the many name changes are due to the passage of the Royal Road and the opening of the New Way from Minas.

The Royal Road and the Emperor's Path

In the year 1704, the bandeirante Garcia Rodrigues Paes, in order to provide a faster and safer route for the transport of gold, opened the Caminho Novo da Estrada Real, connecting the center of Rio de Janeiro, where the Portuguese court was located, to Minas Gerais. Until then, a less secure path was used, connecting Paraty - RJ to Ouro Preto - MG, which became known as the Caminho Velho. However, about 35 years later, a local shortcut was created, causing the original route traced by Garcia (and passing through Paty do Alferes) to fall into disuse. It is on this new route, crossing the mountainous region of Fluminense, that the Imperial City of Petrópolis would eventually be founded. In addition to the Caminho Novo, another important route passed through Paty do Alferes: the Emperor's Path. The path was named this way because Emperor D. Pedro II used to ride along the route, which connects Paty to Petrópolis. It was the emperor's custom to visit Paty do Alferes to meet and ride with his friend, the second Baron of Paty, who used to receive the monarch at the Manga Larga Farm.

Leadership in Coffee Cultivation

In 1730, the Fazenda da Freguesia was created, currently known as Aldeia de Arcozelo, along the Caminho Novo. For pilgrims crossing the Serra do Tinguá towards the interior of Brazil in search of gold, the farm became an important reference point. In the early 19th century, Paty do Alferes was the largest coffee producer in the Vale do Paraíba, enriching the rural aristocracy of Rio de Janeiro through the labor of enslaved Africans. The Fazenda da Freguesia belonged to Captain Manoel Francisco Xavier and was the stage for one of the country's most important slave rebellions.

The Rebellion of Manoel Congo

The uprising occurred in the year 1838, led by the blacksmith Manoel Congo, who today lends his name to one of the squares in Paty. Known as the Revolt of Paty do Alferes, the rebellion was harshly suppressed and involved the participation of the National Guard of the Empire. As punishment, each of the captured individuals received 650 lashes, while Manoel Congo was sentenced to hanging. Just over a hundred years later, in the 1960s, the Fazenda da Freguesia was donated to the Brazilian actor, poet, and diplomat Paschoal Carlos Magno. In 1965, he founded the Aldeia de Arcozelo, which, with its 51 thousand square meters, became the largest and most important cultural complex in Latin America at the time. However, it is currently closed for renovations and will soon house a museum to safeguard the history of Manoel Congo and the memory of the enslaved in the region.

The Iconic Tomato Festival

The rich agricultural heritage of Paty do Alferes is reflected in today's culture, and the greatest example of this is the famous Tomato Festival. Held with enthusiasm and dedication, this festival is an annual celebration that brings the community together around a unique tradition: celebrating the tomato. During the festival, residents and visitors gather at an exhibition park to participate in various activities that reflect the culture and welcoming spirit of Paty do Alferes.

Paty do Alferes, this agricultural powerhouse that has been the stage for historical events, is the perfect place for those seeking contact with nature, history, and adventure, providing circuits to be explored on foot, by bicycle, and even on horseback. Come to Paty!

The Trails of Paty project is an initiative of the Municipality of Paty do Alferes in partnership with Sebrae/RJ, developed by eTrilhas.