Historical and Archaeological Sites

The site was essential for local economic development and developed activities such as rice planting, leather and wax manufacturing throughout its history. It became popularly known as Sítio do Físico due to its first owner, Antônio José da Silva Pereira, a physicist who was part of the Captaincy General of Maranhão.

Its construction, dating from the end of the 17th century and beginning of the 19th century, consists of a large house and structures such as furnaces, tanks, wells, warehouses, docks, laboratory, ramps, roofs and pipes with a distribution box for the tanks.

The Sítio do Físico is located in the Bacanga State Park and is open to visitors from 8am to 4pm, every day.

With an area of approximately 34 hectares, Sítio Piranhenga is made up of different environments that portray the dynamics of rural life on old Brazilian farms. The 18th century mansion and slave quarters are living testaments to the hard work of the slave hands who built this place more than 200 years ago.

In the lower part of the site, visitors come across the old slave quarters. Next door, two caieiras tell the story of lime production from sarnambi bark, a process full of tradition and technique that was widely used in construction at that time.

The climb up the 96-step staircase covered with Portuguese and French tiles reveals peculiar curiosities. The “loveseats”, small benches where only white people could sit at the time, tell silent stories about society at the time.

The large house, inhabited by the former owners, slave owners, preserves its original architecture, but not without modifications over the years. Every detail of the mansion’s structure tells a story about the taste and art of the time. Next door, a chapel with a wealth of architectural details and relief tiles on the internal walls of the oratory, a material expression of religiosity in the homes of Colonial Brazil.

Visits to Sítio Piranhenga are open from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 12pm and from 1:30pm to 5pm, and on Saturdays, from 8am to 12pm. Visitors have the opportunity to explore this historic setting for an access fee. Visits are scheduled, providing a more personalized experience.

Sítio Piranhenga is maintained by the Maranhão Professionalizing Center (Cepromar), a non-governmental organization that not only manages and preserves the heritage, but also promotes free professional training courses, contributing to the local community.

The place is a unique opportunity for those who want to take wedding or graduation photographs, standing out among the walls full of history. For more information and appointments, contact (98) 98144-6853 and immerse yourself in a journey through time at Sítio Piranhenga, where every stone tells a story and every corner reveals the cultural richness of Maranhão.