Alfenas, Administrative municipality in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil
Alfenas is an administrative municipality in southern Minas Gerais that spreads over rolling terrain at 761 meters (2,497 feet) elevation and counts roughly 80,000 inhabitants. The town sits surrounded by coffee fields and extends from its historic center toward the shores of Lake Furnas.
The settlement originated with the Martins Alfena colonial family, whose surname came from the Portuguese town of Alfena, itself derived from the Arabic word for henna. Over the centuries, the area evolved into a coffee-growing center for the region.
As headquarters of the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association, the town's daily life revolves around coffee farms that shape local conversations and family routines. Visitors notice this bond in downtown cafés and when meeting residents who often work directly with the harvest cycle.
The municipality connects through highways MG 179, BR 491, and BR 369, positioned roughly 335 kilometers (208 miles) from Belo Horizonte and 300 kilometers (186 miles) from São Paulo. Travelers find lodging and restaurants in the center, while Lake Furnas offers opportunities for water-based activities.
Around 16,000 hectares (39,537 acres) remain devoted to coffee production, which becomes visible when driving through the surrounding countryside. Many visitors overlook that Lake Furnas also shelters small beaches and quiet coves for swimming.
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