Capivari brings together church and architectural history, memories of the railway, landscaped squares and cultural traditions. Its historical milestones range from a first chapel around 1820 to the tracks removed in the 1990s. Exploring the town by area of interest can help you distinguish its different chapters: religious architectural history, urban monuments, transport history and cultural heritage. The places and themes below offer several specific points of reference.
Church, Casarão and railway station: history across several periods
Construction of the Igreja Matriz de São João Batista began in 1842, replacing the town’s first chapel, established around 1820. The year 1842 also features in the history of the Casarão do Barão de Almeida Lima: construction of the house began that same year. This makes it possible to compare the two buildings directly in time, even though the dates refer to different milestones—the start of construction for the church and the start of building work for the Casarão. In 1975, Condephaat, part of the São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture, designated the Casarão a protected historic heritage site. This protection status adds another chapter to its history.
The Estação Ferroviária tells a different story. Between 1875 and 1980, it served as a point of arrival and departure for passengers and goods traveling by train across the state. The present-day station building was constructed later, in 1918, to a design by Cândido Motta Filho. It was modified over the years, and in the 1990s Ferrovia Paulista S/A (Fepasa) removed the tracks. To place these events in context, it is worth distinguishing the station’s longer history of use from the construction history of the present-day building: the dates refer to different periods, not a single construction date.
Squares, greenery and art in the cityscape
Praça Rodrigues de Abreu and Praça Dr. Cesário Motta bring together several elements of public design: between them, they feature two fountains, a bandstand and a raised terrace with an obelisk. The obelisk was inaugurated in 1932 to mark the centenary of the town’s founding. The two squares are richly vegetated and considered among Capivari’s most beautiful landscapes. Works of art there include herms honoring Amadeu Amaral, Tarsila do Amaral and Rodrigues de Abreu. They were created by Victor Brecheret, Pandolfo and Tarsila do Amaral, respectively. According to the city, the three people commemorated are among Capivari’s most important artists. The squares’ design, a dated memorial and public art stand side by side.
Cultural heritage and time-specific activities
Capivari’s cultural heritage also includes traditional forms of expression. The “Guaiá do Batuque de Umbigada” group preserves the tradition of this dance of African origin in the town. Capivari is also one of the municipalities that play a major role in preserving the tradition of Caiumba paulista. These are two distinct cultural traditions: a specifically named group and its dance, and the municipality’s role in preserving Caiumba paulista.
Another connection to cultural history is the “Sítio Santa Rita” property on Rodovia Jornalista Francisco Aguirre Proença (SP-301). In April 2004, Itesp (Fundação Instituto de Terras do Estado de São Paulo) recognized it as Quilombola land. The property, surrounded by sugarcane fields, was inhabited by descendants of enslaved people. Its name, recognition and location on SP-301 give this historical connection a specific geographic context.
An announcement dated August 3, 2026, listed free Hip-Hop and Flashback Dance workshops at Capivari’s Centro Esportivo e Cultural. Hip-Hop was for participants aged 12 and over and was scheduled for Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m.; Flashback Dance was for adults and scheduled for Saturdays from 3 to 4 p.m. The different age groups and time slots help distinguish the two activities. If you are planning to attend on a specific date, check the latest information beforehand.
Discover more destinations: Dois Córregos, São Lourenço da Serra, Nazaré Paulista, Capela do Alto, Embu-Guaçu, Rio das Pedras, Cesário Lange, Arapeí.
For the main travel overview: São Paulo.
