Hidden in the Lush Interior of Cantagalo.
To find Roça Pinheira you’ll need to leave the main road behind and venture down narrow dirt tracks, winding through a dense and fragrant landscape—until, almost magically, the old terreiro reveals itself.
Founded in the late 18th century, Roça Pinheira was for decades a key cocoa-producing estate, emblematic of the golden cycle that once defined the economic and cultural life of São Tomé. By the early 20th century, the plantation was owned by D. Aurora de Macedo, Lda, and managed by Delfim Guimarães (1872–1933).
Though time has softened the sharpness of its grandeur, the soul of the roça still lingers. The air is thick with the sweet scent of tropical foliage, carrying the echo of voices from long ago.
Visiting Roça Pinheira is not just a stop on the map—it’s a journey through time. A chance to contemplate what remains and imagine what once was. Here, in the hush of the forest and the warmth of the tropics, the past is never truly gone—only sleeping, waiting to be rediscovered.
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