The Cerrado is a vast tropical savannah that is one of the biggest and most diverse of Brazil’s ecosystems. Not far from the big city of Goiania lies the special jewel of the Cerrado: the historic city of Pirenópolis. It’s the right place to go when you want to escape the hectic big city and it was the destination we had chosen for a brief holiday among friends.

With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips. Here we explore Pirenópolis, considered to be the heart of Goiás state and culture in Brazil. It has retained its wonderful colonial architecture, which gives the city an irresistible charm and has led to its designation as a National Artistic Historic site.