Stone furnaces
Royal Iron Works.
Shirlei Rosalia Herrera Tatsukawa — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Picturesartbr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gilvanisantos15 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gilvanisantos15 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Ipanema National Forest, «FLONA de Ipanema», is a protected area run by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation in inland São Paulo state near Sorocaba, covering parts of Araçoiaba da Serra, Iperó and Capela do Alto. It was created by presidential decree on 20 May 1992 to protect and restore remnants of Atlantic Forest, above all around Araçoiaba hill. Its value goes beyond nature, as it keeps important historic remains, including archaeological sites older than the arrival of the colonisers and the ruins of the «Royal Iron Works of São João de Ipanema», Brazil's first iron works, founded in the early 19th century, whose stone blast furnaces and old village houses still stand. The forest has walking trails through the woods, a dam lake and the historic village buildings, making a day of nature and history about an hour from Sorocaba. Check visiting times and conditions with the reserve's management.
Royal Iron Works.
Atlantic Forest.
Historic houses.
Iperó and Araçoiaba da Serra, near Sorocaba
The ruins of the Royal Iron Works of São João de Ipanema, Brazil's first iron works.