Castelo is the name of a municipality and its capital in the southwest of the state of Espírito Santo

Espírito Santo

Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...

 in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. Its population was 34,704 (2005) and its area is 669 km².

History

There is information on two Amerindian tribes inhabiting the area before the colonial era. The main tribe was called Puris, and the secondary, with less presence, were the Botocudos. The first non-native immigration into the region was of gold prospectors who moved into the area, but this was a short-lived adventure which by 1830 had been abandoned. After 1830, local interest turned towards the land. Medium-sized properties were established using slave labour until 1888, when it was abolished. Soon after, Italian immigrants from the neighbouring municipality of Alfredo Chaves

Alfredo Chaves

Alfredo Chaves is the name of a municipality and its capital in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It is 60 km southwest of the state capital, Vitória...

 began to settle in Castelo. In 1891 Castelo became a district of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim

Cachoeiro de Itapemirim

Cachoeiro de Itapemirim is the name of a municipality and of its capital, located in the south of Espírito Santo, Brazil, on the banks of the Itapemirim river. It is the economic hub of southern Espírito Santo, being the most important producer of marble and granite in Brazil. Home to one of the...

 and remained part of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim until 1928, when it separated.

Location

Castelo is 145 km from the state capital Vitória, and stands at 100 meters above sea level. Castelo's borders are: Alfredo Chaves and Domingos Martins (E), Venda Nova do Imigrante

Venda Nova do Imigrante

Venda Nova do Imigrante is a municipality, with a capital of the same name, in east central Espírito Santo, Brazil. Created in 1989, by separating from Conceição do Castelo, it stands at a height of 630 meters above sea level...

 and Conceição do Castelo (N), Muniz Freire and Alegre (W) and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim

Cachoeiro de Itapemirim

Cachoeiro de Itapemirim is the name of a municipality and of its capital, located in the south of Espírito Santo, Brazil, on the banks of the Itapemirim river. It is the economic hub of southern Espírito Santo, being the most important producer of marble and granite in Brazil. Home to one of the...

 (S).

Population

Castelo is strongly influenced by Italian immigrants, who make up the great majority of the municipality's population. This influences today's traditional commemorations, very much Catholic-based in traditions like Corpus Christi. This influence is also felt in the traditional Italian Folklore dance group, which still practices traditional Piemontese dances.

Geography

Highest point in the municipality is the Forno Grande Peak (2039 m), which is also the highest point in the state after Bandeira Peak, shared with Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...

.