On the banks of the Rio Negro, in the village of Paricatuba, Amazonas state, are the Paricatuba Ruins—the remains of a magnificent century-old building. This village, recognized as a historical and cultural heritage site of the state, is located in the municipality of Iranduba, approximately 40 kilometers from Manaus.
Special attention is drawn to the stone structure overgrown with the huge roots of kapok trees—trees that embrace the walls and help them remain stable, creating a unique landscape. Construction began in the late 19th century with the aim of housing a hotel for Italian immigrants. Materials imported from Europe were used for the building's construction, which were considered expensive and valuable at the time.
Throughout the 20th century, this place served as a venue for various educational initiatives and was also converted into an isolation hospital for the compulsory treatment of people with hansen's disease (an infectious disease previously known as leprosy). Around the mid-1980s, construction was abandoned and overtaken by Amazonian vegetation, leading to the formation of the current landscape.
In September of this year, the village of Paricatuba received a full-fledged tourist route. The Paricatuba Tourist Trail was launched on September 26, 2026, as part of the Viva Paricatuba project, implemented by Impact Hub Manaus in collaboration with village residents and the Paricatuba Community Association.
Along with the launch of an official website containing information for travelers, the new tourist route included the installation of bilingual road signs and information stands throughout the village. These structures mark historical attractions such as the old morgue, the church, and one of Paricatuba's oldest houses.
The century-old ruins of the settlement have also undergone changes. A museum has been opened inside the ruins, displaying photographs, traditional regional artifacts, and old community items, all preserved and presented in glass display cases and on display tables.
Another piece of news was the creation of an open art mural called Muro Parikás, executed by graffiti artist and cultural producer Valdemiro Nascimento. This work combines illustrations of local animals and fruits, which were developed, in part, collectively based on discussions with the Paricatuba community.
The inauguration was also marked by the release of the comic book 'Paricatuba, Village of a Thousand Stories,' created by Romax Mascarenhas, an artist belonging to the Mauricio de Sousa Produções team. The work tells the story of a boy from Manaus who visits his grandmother in the village, and it can be purchased on site.
The easiest way to get to the village of Paricatuba is from Manaus. From the capital of Amazonas, one must cross the Rio Negro Bridge and travel along the Manoel Urbano Highway (AM-070) to kilometer 21 in the municipality of Iranduba. The trip by car or bus takes about 40 minutes to enter the village.
In the village itself, visitors can arrange tours of the attractions led by local residents who tell tourists the history of this historic place. For those planning to stay longer, the region also offers community guesthouses and other accommodation options, as well as restaurants and establishments serving regional breakfast with typical Amazonian flavors.
