Papagaio has a specific connection to the Feast of Saint Francis in Campinas do Piauí: in 2024, the Papagaio community was among the groups that helped lead the novena in honor of Saint Francis. In addition, the industrial history of the municipality it belongs to dates back to the 19th century. Thus, a specific dated event and a longer factory history stand side by side.

A connection to a 2024 feast

On September 28, 2024, the fourth night of the novena in Campinas do Piauí included a rosary prayer, a novena, a Eucharistic celebration, and a fair with bingo. The Papagaio community was among the participating groups. Prayer and the service formed the religious part of the evening; the fair with bingo added a sociable festive element to the program. For those interested in religious traditions, this event offers a specific glimpse into the connection between a liturgical program and a community celebration.

Factory, workers’ settlement, and urban history

In the municipality of Campinas do Piauí, the Fábrica de Laticínios was built in 1897 as the first building in the Campos area of Fazenda Castelo. A workers’ settlement for employees grew up around the factory; the town of Campinas do Piauí later developed from this settlement’s core. The sequence thus runs from the factory building to the employees’ workplace and home, and then to the development of a town. In this way, industrial history also provides a path to understanding the origins of the place.

Industrial architecture in the Sertão

Since 2014, the Fábrica de Laticínios has been protected as a heritage site by Iphan and listed in its historical heritage register. It is considered a rare example of Piauí’s 19th-century industrial architecture. Some neoclassical elements are part of its appearance; at the same time, its architecture combines features associated with the historical and geographical conditions of the Sertão of Piauí. The building can therefore be viewed both through its architectural elements and in its regional context.

Changing uses and factory timelines

After its dairy operations ended, the Fábrica de Laticínios served for many years as the community’s church, school, and recreation center. This change adds the building’s later role in community life to its history: industrial use was followed by religious, educational, and community functions.

The former Fábrica de Manteiga e Queijo in Campinas do Piauí was founded in 1876. After dairy production declined in the mid-1940s, it permanently ceased operations. The years mark different events: 1876 is the year the Fábrica de Manteiga e Queijo was founded, and 1897 is the year the Fábrica de Laticínios was built.

Planning your trip

If you would like to include the industrial architecture in an in-person visit, check in advance whether visits are currently possible.

Discover more destinations: Barras, Picos, Ponta Do Anel, Escalvado, Enseada, Paquetá, Grota Funda, Luiz Correia

See the regional travel overview: Piauí.