The city of Pedro II in Piauí is a Piauí treasure located in Serra dos Matões and has a wide range of options for tourists. Due to its 600 meters above sea level, it has mild temperatures throughout the year.

In addition, the precious stone Opal was discovered in Pedro II in 1930. The city is also known as the Land of Opal and “Suíça Piauiense”, due to its mountainous 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 part, the Portuguese-style houses reveal the country air and the whole history behind colonization, but an indigenous element is also present: the more than 200 archaeological sites are living proof of the presence of the communities that have inhabited these lands for thousands of years. behind.

In the basement, there is the Opal Stone, a valuable gem that, in the world, is only found in this region of Piauí and in Australia.

The craftsmanship in cotton yarn is a striking cultural feature with its tapestry and hammocks of nationally recognized quality.

For those who enjoy 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, sports – and music, with concerts by local and national artists. and international.

Pedro II still has options for those who like to experience the situations of the country man with the possibility of staying in the houses of the inhabitants of the rural area.

Videos about the city of Pedro II and Pedra Preciosa Opala

See also other features Opal is one of the most beautiful gemstones found in Brazil

TOURIST POINTS IN THE CITY OF PEDRO II 

1. Historic Center

The center of the municipality has secular properties with Portuguese inspiration and also mansions that recall the economic peak of the first half of the XNUMXth century.

Many tourists are enchanted by the constructions that maintain the characteristics of the XNUMXth century. Colorful buildings can be seen throughout the city, which draw attention to their traditional architecture and the historical importance they represent.

Most of these buildings can be located downtown. Many of them serve as public bodies of the municipality.

Among them, stand out:

1.1 Tertuliano Brandão Filho Memorial

Tertuliano Brandão Filho Memorial holds a collection of images and documents of the city.

1.2 Board of Trade

The site, which was used as a commercial center in the city in the 40s, was deactivated for a period without being used as a public building.

In 2005, the Board of Trade underwent renovations, returning to function, this time as a cutting center for opals produced in the municipality.

1.3 Manor of the Brown Star

Colonel Domingos Mourão was municipal intendant, head of state and federal tax collection.

In the 30s, this mansion was bombed by order of the Federal Government at the time. Even today, the decoration of the house is made up of furniture and utensils from the time of its construction.

1.4 Church of Our Lady of Conception

Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, which replaced the chapel in honor of the same saint brought by the Portuguese in the XNUMXth century; The

1.5 City Hall

In this building, the police station operated, it was the headquarters of a club, the city council and since 1918 it has been the headquarters of the Municipal Public Power.

In the mayor's office there is a painting of D. Pedro II dated 1925, painted by a Sister of Charity from Teresina.

1.6 Craft Workshop Dona Miriam Mourão Eduardo Pereira

Today it operates as a school, but it was once the residence of Captain Domingos da Silva Mourão, prosecutor and city politician.

Since his death in 1893 until today, it serves as a public building. This mansion was the headquarters of the Post Office in the 20s and 30s and, since 1998, has been given over to the handicraft workshop, a partnership between SEBRAE and the City Hall.

2. Crafts

Cotton thread craftsmanship has been a tradition in Pedro II since at least the XNUMXth century. According to oral history, it all started with the three sisters Severa, Honorina and Mariana who introduced harrow looms in the locality and later spread the techniques of making hammocks, the best known product. Nowadays, quilts, bags, placemats, among other objects are also produced.

3. Opal Route

It is also possible to take a route that includes the entire production chain of opal, from its mines, the best known of which is the dead ox, one of the largest in the world in open sky, to the lapidary and goldsmith workshops.

4. Archaeological Sites

Pedro II has more than 200 panels of cataloged archaeological sites, four of which have the structure to receive tourists:

• Serra do Quinto
• Buriti Grande dos Aquiles
• Tower 1
• Tower 2

The animal, human and abstract figures are the result of years of human occupation. The presence of a guide is required.

Comprising Tower 1 and Tower 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 that connects the municipality of Pedro II to Poranga, in Ceará.

In just 15 minutes by car and after taking a walk along a small and easy trail, you can already reach the many rock inscriptions. 

How is the archaeological site of Pedro II

The Torre archaeological site contains panels of rock inscriptions that show us the presence of primitive civilizations that inhabited the region.

Tower 1 has 3 panels, where there is the highest concentration of figures. The oldest inscriptions are 12 years old.  

In these spaces you can appreciate how our ancestors lived. In some, it is represented through more abstract graphics, that is, paintings that do not concern images of animals, humans or nature.

In others we can already see paintings with human and animal figures.

The paintings vary in size, ranging from small to larger, all with reddish tones.

Panel 3 is where the larger paintings are located. You can observe all of this through a certain structure that contains a walkway from which you can get close to the remains, take a picture, contemplate.

In addition to all this historical richness, when visiting the Torre archaeological site you are also graced with a rich biome with an area of ​​cerrado and species of this vegetation and also of the caatinga, both with animals and plants belonging to these biomes.

Foxes, reptiles, amphibians and birds from the cerrado and caatinga can be found there.  

5. Museu da Roça

Private museum that is located about 10 kilometers from the municipal seat.

It occupies a XNUMXth century mansion and has an eclectic collection that shows the social evolution and the beginnings of mining in the city. It also has a restaurant with swimming pool and hammock.

Located in the Rural Area, the place is a mandatory stop for anyone visiting the city. With a collection of more than two thousand pieces, including crockery, handicrafts and agricultural utensils, the Museu da Roça attracts thousands of tourists every year.

The place brings together a bit of everything: typewriters, furniture, images of saints, books, records, leather pieces, crockery, bills, trunks and everything else that can keep the memory of the city alive, according to Dona Anitalice Galvão, creator of the space.

Open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

6. Buritizinho farm

It is a private property that operates during festivals and celebrations in the city.

On site there is a mill and a Flour House where it is possible to follow and interact with the processes of making products from sugarcane (juice, brown sugar) and cassava (flour, gum, tapioca).

7. Rural Tourism

Families from the rural area also receive tourists who want to experience rural experiences such as planting, harvesting and caring for animals.

8. Chapel of Marialves

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 fleeing the drought and lost its members along the way, leaving only the girl Maria Alves, 14 years old, who died in the shade of a tree in Pedro II.

Since then, the girl has several devotees who have built a chapel in her honor.

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 middle of cerrado, caatinga and Atlantic forest vegetation. There are also several waterfalls that, in addition to bathing, are used for activities such as rappelling.

Among them stand out the Salto Liso waterfall, 26 meters high and with cold water – visitable from February to July; and the Urubu Rei Waterfall, with difficult access and a 76-meter waterfall.

10. Screamer's Lookout

It is a contemplation point located at an altitude of 729 meters above sea level and offers a magnificent view of the valleys, divided between Pedro II and the municipalities of Piracuruca, São João da Fronteira and Domingos Mourão.

It is located 14 kilometers north of the city center with access via a paved road and has infrastructure to receive tourists during festivals and festivals in the city.

Directions

the distance from Teresina to Pedro II is 207 kilometers.

Leaving Teresina, take the BR 343 towards the Federal Highway Police station in the city of Piripiri, turn right and follow the BR 404 for about 50 kilometers to the entrance portal. It is also possible to come from Ceará, via Crateús, on the same BR 404.

Northeast Tourism Guide