Colégio do Caraça, Historical educational complex in Catas Altas, Brazil.
Colégio do Caraça is a multi-building complex displaying Portuguese architectural features, including a Gothic-style church and two-story lateral wings. The site extends across a larger grounds with gardens and various functional spaces organized around the central chapel.
The site began in 1774 through a friar's initiative and was later expanded by Lazarist missionaries from Portugal, who significantly enlarged the educational mission starting in 1820. This religious community shaped the location's development for nearly two centuries.
The college served for generations as a center for religious formation and attracted students from across the region who lived and studied within its walls. The spaces still hold traces of this spiritual and educational role that shaped local life.
The site offers guided tours through the buildings, gardens, and chapel, with good road access from the nearest major city. It is wise to allow plenty of time to explore all areas and appreciate the architecture at leisure.
A major fire in 1868 destroyed the newly built school building and wiped out numerous historical books and documents. This dramatic loss became a defining moment in the site's recovery and rebuilding.
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