Piracicaba

Piracicaba is a city of 407,000 people (2020) in Campinas Region of São Paulo state. The birthplace of the caipirinha, Piracicaba is regarded as one of the most pleasant medium-sized cities in the state. Attractions of the city include a charming riverside area, historical heritage, Tyrolese villages and the beautiful campus of the agriculture school of University of São Paulo.

Understand
Campinas is undoubtedly the largest city and economic powerhouse of the Campinas Region, but hardly any city of the region beats Piracicaba in terms of cultural vibrancy. The city has several cultural centers, annual traditions from both caipira and immigrant origins, and is the birthplace of the caipirinha.

Founded in 1776 at the shores of the Piracicaba river, the so-called Vila Nova da Constituição grew with sugarcane production, unlike most of the São Paulo state which grew with coffee farming. Thanks to city council member Prudente de Moraes, who would later become the first civil president of Brazil, in 1881 Vila Nova da Constituição changed its name to Piracicaba. Sugarcane remains very important to the city's economy, as Piracicaba is a major producer of ethanol.

Eat
Piracicaba's most famous local dish is the peixe no tambor ("fish in the drum"), served on Rua do Porto. Piracicaba is also famous for its pamonha, a dessert made of mashed corn, milk (or coconut milk), sugar, cinnamon, butter and fennel, produced in the rural neighborhood of Tanquinho. The restaurants of the Santa Olímpia neighborhood also offer dishes of Tyrolese origin, like polenta with chicken, canederli and polenta brustolada.



Go next

 * Águas de São Pedro - A prosperous and charming mineral spring resort town.