Taubaté, founded in 1645, is recognized as one of the first settlements in the interior of São Paulo. Its early growth was driven by the 19th-century coffee boom, a period that made the Paraíba Valley one of Brazil’s most prosperous regions. The city’s architecture preserves its rich history, while industrial growth shows the city in a new and modern light. This unique blend of old and new makes the city an ideal open-air film set.

The Casarão Villa Santo Aleixo perfectly exemplifies the city’s shift from a rural past to modern urban growth. Built around 1872, this country-style townhouse, inspired by European architecture, is notable for its windows with wrought-iron grilles known as “gateiras,” as well as the wooden flooring and framing. During a restoration carried out between 2023 and 2025, traces of its history came back to light, including original wall paintings, thus returning a vital piece of the city’s heritage to public prominence.

The city’s ties to Italian immigration are immediately apparent upon entering the district of Quiririm. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, following the abolition of slavery, thousands of Italian families settled in Brazil to work in the coffee fields. Black-and-white images displayed across the façades of buildings depict the bygone days of rural life, bringing the neighborhood’s history back to life.

The Santuário Dioecesano de Santa Teresinha is a highlight of the Rota da Luz, a popular pilgrimage route in Taubaté, a city with deep religious traditions. Built in the neo-Gothic style, the church’s façade features pinnacles and towers, while its interior boasts a breathtaking composition of stained-glass windows, columns, and vaults in rich shades of blue.

Founded in 1630, the town of Guaratinguetá first prospered through mining before its economy shifted to coffee production. Situated along the historic Estrada Real, the town served as a strategic stopover for muleteers and traders traveling between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

In the Paraíba Valley, the tale of the “loira do banheiro” (“the bathroom blonde”] is one of Brazil’s most famous urban legends, passed down through generations of schoolchildren. As the legend goes, the spirit of a young blonde woman, said to have died a tragic death, can be summoned in school bathroom mirrors if a certain ritual is performed. The story is linked to the mystery surrounding the tomb of Maria Augusta and the old mansion that now houses the Escola Estadual Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves. The nearby Cemitério e Velório Senhor dos Passos further adds to the grim, suspenseful atmosphere, making the area an ideal setting for productions that explore local and national folklore.

Located just a few kilometers away, Lorena was founded in the old Porto de Guaypacaré in the late 17th century. The town’s historic buildings, built by politically and economically prominent families of the period, allow for authentic re-creations of the imperial era.

A fine example of 19th-century colonial Paulista architecture, the Espaço Cultural Casa da Mariazinha is a notable landmark with its gabled, ceramic-tile roof, vibrant façade painted in shades of yellow, white, and blue, and stately entrance adorned with bird sculptures, hand carved from wood.

Filming in Taubaté and its neighboring towns offers a unique chance to explore a location where history, culture, and architecture seamlessly converge.