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Barão do Serro Country House Raised during the second half of the XIXth century as residence of the two important and quite influential politicians of the time, that of the Barão do Serro Country House is located in the District of Serro, in the Central region of Minas. The brothers José Joaquim Ferreira Rabelo and Sebastião José Ferreira Rabelo lived in the house. The former held the rank of colonel and received from D. Pedro II, in 1879, the title of baron of Serro. The old construction is of the Gothic style, which flourished in medieval Europe. The “U” shaped structure is composed of an internal pátio, "peanut brittle" type floor, with floral shapes which remind one of the Islamic art Moorish inheritance. The materials which are most used in the work are wood and wattle. The house has beautiful doors and window with stained glass. The entrance is made up of a landing, delimited by an iron gate and two symmetrical stairs on the side. At this point, three benches made of carved soap stone, resembling armchairs, are fixed between the four doors which give way to the front of the house. The big gate at the entrance of the country place, made of carved cast iron, is supported by two stone columns, on which rested two large lions sculpted in marble, originally. In the kitchen, a sink and a wood stove also built out of soap stone draw the visitor’s attention. Many other ambiences and pieces also deserve special mention. Amongst them are a stone wall and the fountain which adorn the garden, developed in stonework, one of the oldest construction techniques applied to stone cutting, with a decorative and structural effect. At the entrance of the place, a caldron used by the old troopers in the preparation of food renders homage to the group of pioneers. The house, which since 1975 belongs to IEPHA, went through a refurbishing process and it currently hosts activities and groups connected to education, culture and tourism.
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