Cabinet of curiosities
The salesmen's finds.
The Gama d'Eça and Victor Bersani Educational Museum belongs to the Federal University of Santa Maria, the first federal university founded in Brazil's interior. It was created in 1981 by merging two museums: the Victor Bersani Museum, founded in 1913 by a society of travelling salesmen, and the university's own museum, founded in 1968. Since December 1985 it has occupied a 1913 mansion designed by the German architect Theodor Wiederspahn, counted among his finest works in the city, with an eclectic façade and a historic garden. The collection of about thirteen thousand items covers history, science and art, including the salesmen's travel finds, assembled in the manner of an old cabinet of curiosities and listed as national heritage in the 1930s. A palaeontology section shows fossils from the Triassic and the Pleistocene, as the Santa Maria region is rich in them, and the museum is part of the area's palaeontological route. Check opening times before visiting.
The salesmen's finds.
Triassic and Pleistocene.
A Wiederspahn work.
Astrogildo César de Azevedo mansion, central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul
Theatro Treze de Maio, Santa MariaThe Theatro Treze de Maio is a historic theatre facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in2 minutes walk4.7
Vila Belga (Belgian Village), Santa MariaVila Belga, the «Belgian Village», is a historic housing quarter in central Sant12 minutes walk4.4
Old Railway Station (Gare) of Santa MariaSanta Maria's old railway station, known locally as the «Gare», recalls the era 13 minutes walk3.8Families and anyone curious about local history and fossils.