Fazenda São Bernardino, 19th century coffee farm in Nova Iguaçu, Brazil
Fazenda São Bernardino is a 19th-century agricultural estate with neoclassical buildings spread across extensive grounds in Nova Iguaçu. The complex includes a main residence, worker quarters, and multiple structures designed for processing and storing crops.
The property was established in 1875 by Portuguese entrepreneur Bernardino José de Souza e Melo during Brazil's period of agricultural expansion. It served as a production center for coffee, sugar, manioc flour, and spirits throughout the 19th century.
The farm's name honors its founder Bernardino José de Souza e Melo, and this heritage remains visible in how the buildings are arranged across the land. The layout reflects the social and economic structures of 19th-century Brazilian agriculture.
The property is located in the Vila de Cava district along Estrada Zumbi dos Palmares and requires significant restoration work. Access may be limited due to the ongoing condition of the buildings, so advance planning is recommended.
Archaeological work at the site uncovered multiple production structures from the 19th century that show how the operation functioned. These discoveries provide rare insight into daily work life on large Brazilian agricultural estates during that era.
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