ActivityPhoto Wikimedia CommonsThe Gold Path
State of Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
You will walk on the Gold Path finding out about the history of Paraty and Brazil while you collect edible wild plants with the expert forager.
Contents
7 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1The Gold Path (Estrada Real)
Welcome to the Caminho do Ouro, the legendary Gold Path, which serves as the terminal stretch of the Estrada Real—the Royal Road. Established in the late 17th century, specifically around 1667, this stone-paved route was the…
Listen in the app2Engineering the 'Pé de Moleque'
The construction of the Caminho do Ouro is a masterclass in colonial engineering. The term 'pé de moleque' literally translates to 'boy's foot,' a name given to the irregular, hand-fitted stones that make up the road's surface. …
Listen in the app3The Golden Port: Paraty's Economic Heart
The Gold Path ends where the city of Paraty begins. In the 18th century, Paraty was one of the wealthiest and most important ports in the Portuguese Empire. …
Listen in the app4Pedra Branca: Power and Water
A short detour from the main Gold Path takes us to the Cachoeira da Pedra Branca. This waterfall is not only a site of natural beauty but also a landmark of industrial history. …
Listen in the app5Alambiques and the Cachaça Culture
The history of the Gold Path is inextricably linked to the production of 'cachaça,' Brazil's famous sugarcane spirit. During the colonial era, the alambiques (distilleries) along the Estrada Real produced high-quality cachaça to…
Listen in the app6Masonic Mysteries and Colonial Facades
As the Gold Path enters the historic center of Paraty, the architecture takes on a more symbolic and mysterious character. Many of the colonial mansions feature 'símbolos maçônicos' (Masonic symbols) carved into the stone or wood…
Listen in the app7Final Reflections
As we reach the end of our journey on the Gold Path, look back toward the green peaks of the Serra do Mar. This route, once a bustling highway for the wealth of an empire, is now a place of profound natural and historical peace. …
Listen in the app
What is The Gold Path?
The Gold Path is a place in State of Rio de Janeiro · Brazil with 7 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | State of Rio de Janeiro · Brazil |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 7 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | -23.2187, -44.7134 |
| Last updated |
