Itu, Historic municipality in São Paulo, Brazil
Itu is a municipality in São Paulo, Brazil, that spreads across hilly landscapes and wide sugarcane fields. Several neighborhoods fan out around a historic center where colonial churches and two-story commercial buildings from the 18th century stand.
The bandeirante Domingos Fernandes founded the settlement in 1610 as a starting point for expeditions into the interior. By 1777 the place had become an important trading post for sugarcane and enslaved people, which quickly led to economic prosperity.
The Nossa Senhora da Candelária church sits on a small hill and draws visitors who come to see its paintings by 18th-century Brazilian artists. Inside hang works by José Patrício da Silva and Almeida Júnior, depicting religious scenes in warm colors that show the artistic tradition of the region.
Several intercity highways connect the town to São Paulo and the international airport of Viracopos, so getting there by car or bus is straightforward. The historic center is best explored on foot, as many buildings sit close to each other.
The Parque do Varvito preserves rock formations that date back 270 million years and testify to the ice age past of the area. Visitors can touch the striped layers directly and trace how glaciers once shaped the surface.
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