Perched on top of the Paraíba Valley, Cunha is a charming city in between the states of São Paulo and Rio: about 3-4 hours either way! It is close to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Paraty in the state of Rio de Janeiro. I will be sharing pics with you about it in a future post. Cunha owes its name to the tool with which wood is chopped and stones split. The municipality was established in 1785 and in the last decades of the 20th century, Cunha became a ceramics stoneware center visited from all over Brazil and other countries as well.
Whether you are just passing through or heading to the area for a few days, this town has a lot to offer! I have visited it a few times. Best is to go around on foot and indulge in the renowned local gastronomy. You will need a ride to get to one of the beer breweries. If you are a mushroom lover, Cunha hosts a shiitake mushroom farm, Fruto da Serra Shiitake, where you can take a pick from the menu either to eat watching the charming green landscapes or to take it back with you. The city also features many artisan shops, as well as old colonial houses/buildings, and the Mercado Municipal -municipal market- that are worth a visit. If you have some time, hike on natural trails in the different parks and make sure to visit at least a few of the several waterfalls: they offer stunning views.
The photos that I was able to recover and am publishing hereafter include the Lavandário, a famous ceramic studio, and one of my latest visits to the Basilica of our Lady of Aparecida, about an hour's drive from Cunha. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
