Sao Thome das Letras
A town built entirely of local quartzite slabs on a hilltop in southern Minas, with caves, waterfalls and a long occult reputation.
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The hill is quartzite, it splits into flat slabs, and the town is built from it - walls, pavements, roofs and church all in the same grey stone quarried within sight of the houses, which gives the place a uniformity that is unusual anywhere. The name comes from inscriptions in a cave near the town that nobody has read; letras means letters. At around fourteen hundred metres the views run a long way over southern Minas, and there are caves, waterfalls at Eubiose and Vale das Borboletas, and the Pedra da Bruxa outcrop. Since the 1970s it has attracted a mystical scene built around claims of UFO activity and underground passages, and much of the local economy now runs on that reputation, which visitors either enjoy or ignore.
What you actually see
- A town built of one stone - quartzite slabs for walls, roofs and pavements.
- The unread cave inscriptions - the marks that gave the town its name.
- Waterfalls and caves - Eubiose, Vale das Borboletas and the outcrops.
- A mystical scene - shops and tours built on the UFO reputation.
When to go
April to September. Two days.
Honest expectations
The road up is steep and rough in places. Quarrying scars are visible around the town. Accommodation is basic and fills at holidays. The occult tourism is heavily commercial and the claims behind it have no evidence.
Nearby
Carmo de Minas and the coffee country are south; Sao Lourenco is south-east.
What to pack for Sao Thome das Letras
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.