The city of Pedro II, known as the ‘Switzerland of Piauí’, is a charming town located in the north of the state of Piauí, around 200 kilometres from Teresina, the capital of Piauí. The city is famous for its mild climate, natural beauty, historical and cultural riches, and for being the only place where noble opal is extracted in Brazil.
The city of Pedro II is in the Serra dos Matões. At 600 metres above sea level, it enjoys mild temperatures all year round.
In addition, the precious stone Opal was discovered in Pedro II in 1930. The town is also known as the Land of the Opal and ‘Switzerland of Piauí’, due to its mountain climate.
The waterfalls, rock formations and trails are perfect settings for extreme sports or for those who just want to walk around and enjoy nature.
In the urban area, the Portuguese-style houses reveal the countryside and all the history behind colonisation, but the indigenous element is also present: the more than 200 archaeological sites are living proof of the presence of the communities that inhabited these lands thousands of years ago.
Underground in the town is the Opal Stone, a valuable gem that can only be found in this region of Piauí and in Australia.
Handicrafts in cotton yarn are an important cultural trait, with tapestries and hammocks of nationally recognised quality.
For those who like good music, there is the Winter Festival, which has been held annually since 2004 on the Corpus Christi holiday, bringing together all the potential of the municipality – ecotourism, handicrafts, sport – and music, with shows by local, national and international artists.
Pedro II also has options for those who like to experience rural life with the possibility of staying in the homes of rural dwellers.
Videos – Tourist attractions in the city of Pedro II and the Precious Opal Stone
Cidade de Pedro II é a Terra da Opala11:46
cidade de Pedro II - Guia de Turismo03:23
Sítios Arqueológicos de Pedro II02:40
Opala preciosa que gera riquezas em Pedro II01:41
PEDRA OPALA - COMO SÃO PRODUZIDAS JÓIAS01:41
See also Opal is one of the most beautiful precious stones found in Brazil
City of Pedro II in Piauí
1. Tourist Attractions
- Historic Centre
- Crafts
- Opal Route
- Archaeological Sites
- Roça Museum
- Buritizinho Site
- Rural Tourism
- Marialves Chapel
- Ecotourism and sports
- Gritador Lookout
1. Historic Centre
The town centre has centuries-old Portuguese-inspired buildings as well as mansions that recall the economic heyday of the first half of the 20th century.
Many tourists are enchanted by the buildings which retain their 19th century characteristics. Colourful buildings can be seen all over the city, attracting attention for their traditional architecture and the historical importance they represent.
Most of these buildings can be found in the city centre. Many of them serve as the town’s public offices.
1.1 Tertuliano Brandão Filho Memorial
The Tertuliano Brandão Filho Memorial houses a collection of images and documents from the city.
1.2 Board of Trade
The site, which was used as the city’s commercial centre in the 1940s, spent a period deactivated, without being used as a public building.
In 2005, the Board of Trade underwent a refurbishment and returned to work, this time as a centre for polishing Opals produced in the town.
1.3 Manor House of the Brown Star
Colonel Domingos Mourão was municipal intendant, head of the state and federal collectorate.
In the 1930s this mansion was bombed by order of the federal government of the time. Even today, the house is decorated with furniture and utensils from the time it was built.
1.4 Church of Our Lady of the Conception
Church of Our Lady of the Conception, which replaced the chapel in honour of the same saint brought by the Portuguese in the 18th century; o
1.5 Town Hall
This building housed the police station, a club, the town hall and since 1918 it has been the seat of the municipal government.
In the mayor’s office there is a painting of King Pedro II from 1925, painted by a Sister of Charity from Teresina.
1.6. Dona Miriam Mourão Eduardo Pereira Handicrafts Workshop
Today it is a school, but it was once the residence of Captain Domingos da Silva Mourão, the city’s promoter and politician.
Since his death in 1893, it has served as a public building. This mansion was the headquarters of the Post Office in the 1920s and 1930s and, since 1998, it has been used as a handicraft workshop, a partnership between SEBRAE and the town hall.
2. Handicrafts
Cotton thread handicrafts have been a tradition in Pedro II since at least the 19th century.
According to oral history, it all began with the three sisters Severa, Honorina and Mariana, who introduced the grid looms to the town and then spread the techniques for making hammocks, the best-known product. Nowadays, quilts, bags, placemats and other objects are also produced.
Pedro II is also known for its opal handicrafts, but also for its ceramics, lace and other handmade products. The craft shops and fairs are great places to buy authentic souvenirs from the region.
3. Opal Route
It is also possible to take a tour that covers the entire opal production chain, from its mines, the best known of which is the Boi Morto, one of the world’s largest open-cast mines, to the cutting and jewellery workshops.
4. Archaeological sites
Pedro II has more than 200 catalogued archaeological sites, four of which have facilities for tourists:
- Serra do Quinto
- Buriti Grande dos Aquiles
- Tower 1
- Tower 2
The figures of animals, men and abstract figures are the result of human occupation over the years. A guide is required.
Comprising Torre 1 and Torre 2, the Torre Archaeological Site is about 8 km from the city of Pedro II.
The main access to it is via the BR-404 motorway, which links the municipality of Pedro II to Poranga, in Ceará.
You can reach the many rock inscriptions in just 15 minutes by car and then walk along a short, easy trail;
What the Pedro II archaeological site is like
The Torre archaeological site contains panels of rock inscriptions that show us the presence of primitive civilisations that inhabited the region.
Tower 1 has 3 panels, where there is the greatest concentration of figures. The oldest inscriptions date back 12,000 years.
In these spaces you can see how our ancestors used to occupy themselves. In some, it is represented by more abstract graphics, i.e. paintings that don’t refer to images of animals, humans or nature.
In others we can already see paintings with human and animal figures.
The paintings vary in size, from small to larger, all with reddish tones.
Panel 3 is where the largest paintings are to be found. You can see all this from a structure containing a walkway from where you can get close to the remains, take photos and contemplate.
In addition to all this historical richness, when you visit the Torre archaeological site you are also graced with a rich biome with cerrado areas and species of this vegetation and also of the caatinga, with both animals and plants belonging to these biomes.
Foxes, reptiles, amphibians and birds from the cerrado and caatinga can all be found there.
5. Roça Museum
A private museum located around 10 kilometres from the town centre.
It occupies a 19th century mansion and has an eclectic collection that shows the social evolution and the beginnings of mining in the town. It also has a restaurant with a swimming pool and a hammock.
Located in the countryside, the site is a must for visitors to the city. With a collection of more than 2,000 items, including crockery, handicrafts and farming utensils, the Roça Museum attracts thousands of tourists every year.
The place brings together a bit of everything: typewriters, furniture, images of saints, books, records, leather goods, crockery, banknotes, chests and anything else that can keep the town’s memory alive, according to Anitalice Galvão, the creator of the space.
Open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
6. Sítio Buritizinho
This is a private property that is open during the town’s festivals and celebrations.
There is a sugar mill and a Casa de Farinha where you can watch and interact with the processes of making products from sugar cane (juice, rapadura) and manioc (flour, gum, tapioca).
7. Rural tourism
Families in rural areas also welcome tourists who want to experience the countryside, such as planting, harvesting and looking after animals.
8. Marialves Chapel
A girl who died of hunger and thirst is considered a saint by many people.
It is said that many years ago, a family left Ceará to escape the drought and lost its members along the way, leaving only the 14-year-old girl Maria Alves, who died in the shade of a tree in Pedro II.
Since then, the girl has had several devotees who have erected a chapel in her honour.
9. Ecotourism and sports
Pedro II has several trails and side roads that are used for sports such as rallies, enduros and racing competitions in the midst of cerrado, caatinga and Atlantic forest vegetation. There are also several waterfalls which, as well as bathing, are used for abseiling.
Among them are the Salto Liso Waterfall, 26 metres high and with cold water – visitable from February to July; and the Cachoeira do Urubu Rei, with difficult access and a 76-metre waterfall.
10. Mirante do Gritador
This viewpoint is located at an altitude of 729 metres above sea level and offers a magnificent view of the valleys between Pedro II and the municipalities of Piracuruca, São João da Fronteira and Domingos Mourão.
One of the most visited spots in the city, the viewpoint installed on the Morro do Gritador offers an incredible view for those who arrive.
The curious name, according to locals, came about because a long time ago the inhabitants of villages at the top of the hill only had one way of communicating with those who lived at the bottom: by shouting.
It is located 14 kilometres to the north of the town centre, accessed by a paved road, and has the infrastructure to welcome tourists during festivals and celebrations in the town.
2. Events and Festivals
- Winter Festival: Pedro II is home to the Winter Festival, one of the most famous events in Piauí. The festival, usually held in June, attracts tourists from all over Brazil with its programme of musical shows, cultural presentations, craft fairs and local gastronomy. The combination of pleasant weather and music makes the festival an unmissable experience.
- Pedro II Carnival: Carnival in the city is also very lively, with street blocks, parades and popular festivals that keep the carnival tradition alive in the interior of Piauí.
3. Accommodation and Infrastructure
The city offers a variety of accommodation options, from simple inns to more comfortable hotels. Many establishments have a rustic charm that matches the mountain climate.
4. Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Pedro II is during the Winter Festival in June, when the weather is cooler and there is an intense cultural programme. However, the town can be visited all year round, especially during the rainy season when the waterfalls are at their fullest.
5. How to get there
The distance from Teresina to Pedro II is 207 kilometres.
From Teresina, take the BR 343 to the Federal Highway Police station in the town of Piripiri, turn right and follow the BR 404 for around 50 kilometres to the entrance gate. It is also possible to come from Ceará, via Crateús, on the same BR 404.
Pedro II is a destination that enchants with its combination of exuberant nature, rich culture and tranquil atmosphere, making it one of the most special places in Piauí to explore.
Tourist guide to the city of Pedro II in Piauí
