Vila Rica do Espírito Santo State Park, Archaeological state park in Fênix, Brazil.
Vila Rica do Espírito Santo State Park is a protected area containing archaeological ruins of a Spanish colonial settlement surrounded by Atlantic Forest vegetation. The grounds display remains of buildings, churches, and infrastructure from the colonial period.
The Spanish colonial settlement was founded in 1589 and became an important religious and administrative center for the region. It was destroyed in 1632 after prolonged conflict and was never rebuilt.
The park preserves traces of Spanish Jesuit settlements with their churches and dwellings still partially visible in the ruins scattered throughout the grounds.
The park features wide pathways that lead through the archaeological sites and is generally easy to navigate. The best time to visit is during the dry season when the trails are more accessible.
The forest on the grounds shelters more than 300 arthropod species and various fish families that reflect the biodiversity of Atlantic Forest ecology. This diversity of life makes the site valuable for understanding native South American ecosystems.
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