Morretes
Morretes is a small historic city of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It has a population of around 16,000 people. It is famous for its restaurants, especially a traditional dish called barreado. It is also the home of many historical monuments. History Etymology The name "Morretes" is a geographical reference to the morros (Portuguese for "hills") that surround the city. Geography Morretes can be reached by road or by taking the historical Serra Verde Express train from Curitiba, or the touristic Paranagua-Curitiba Railway. Main sights Overview Saint Benedict's Church (Igreja de São Benedito): There are a lot of attractions in Morretes. One of them is the Saint Benedict's Church. In 1760, the Brotherhood of Saint Benedict was founded in Morretes. Between 1865 and 1895 the chapel and the cemetery were built, not without some difficulty, as the region was going through a period of economic decadence. Its architecture is composed of the simplest edified scheme of the religious tradition: nave, bell-tower and main chapel. Inside there are many images from different times, including one of the patron saint, the "glorious St. Benedict". Old Bridge (Ponte Velha): A steel bridge over the Nhundiaquara river that gives access to restaurants like Madalozo.