Dating back to 1867, Santa Maria da Serra was initially a waypoint for tropeiros [muleteers] traveling west across the state of São Paulo along the old coffee routes. These routes brought a steady flow of people, and farming gradually became the basis of the local economy. Cassava was an early staple, later giving way to large-scale sugarcane cultivation. Italian immigrants—including families such as the Gravenas—also played a role in shaping local life, leaving a lasting mark on the region’s social and economic development.

The Piracicaba River cuts through the landscape, catching the sunlight as it winds along the terrain’s natural contours. Located in an Environmental Protection Area [Área de Proteção Ambiental – APA], Santa Maria da Serra’s landscape features rolling hills, waterways, reservoirs, and lush vegetation, offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

A local landmark, the Capela Santa Maria chapel has been a fixture of the landscape since the 19th century. Its pale, symmetrical façade features wood accents at the arched entrance and throughout the interior, from the pews to the ciborium. A central tower, topped with a metal cross, rises above the skyline. Nearby, Praça Ademar Vieira Pisco square and a bandstand underscore the sense of heritage and religious life.

In the surrounding countryside, the reservoirs become focal points in the landscape. At Represa Santa Maria, accessed through Condomínio Tamanduá, a modest stretch of shoreline—known locally as the “prainha” or “little beach”—sits quietly within its natural setting. From Condomínio Serelepe, the approach to the same reservoir follows a road lined with palm trees, unfolding in a striking sequence that heightens the sense of scale, lending a strong cinematic quality.

Santa Maria da Serra features wide horizons and expansive views, where the landscape sets the tone and shapes the way the space is perceived. With direct road access and within easy reach of the Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas, and located around 219 kilometers from the capital, the municipality offers easy road access, reinforcing its potential as a setting for audiovisual productions seeking authenticity, visual texture, and varied environments.

Technical Information:

Nearest international airport: Viracopos (VCP)

Distance to nearest airport: 135 km

Distance to São Paulo: 219 km

Distance to GRU Airport: 233 km