Cruzilia, Estrada Real

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Cruzilia served as a crossroad on the Estrada Real where tropeiros, prospectors, and salesmen passed through, travelling between the coastal cities and the interior of Minas Gerais. Today, it is renowned for its cheese and a museum about Brazil's own breed of horses. 

The cheese factory’s history dates to 1948, when its owner, José Moreira de Almeida, ran a small stall in São Paulo but had big dreams of producing his own cheese. Travelling along the Estrada Real, Almeida chose Cruzília for its favourable environmental conditions. There, he began making a wide range of cheeses — from soft brie and camembert to gorgonzola, European varieties like gruyère and emmental, and Brazilian specialities such as Minas spherical. Of course, I couldn’t leave without slipping a few samples into my bag to snack on later.

My next stop was the Museum of Mangalarga Marchador Horse, which tells the story of Brazil's national horse breed. Cruzilia was the birthplace of this breed, with as many as half a million horses spread throughout Brazil. The breed is a result of crossing Portugal’s highly valued Alter Real horses with local stock. The cross-bred horses are known for their elegance, beauty, docile temperament and riding suitability. The Mangalarga Breeders Association was founded in 1934 to preserve and register these unique bloodlines. As such, Marchador horses “must pass rigid standards for conformation, gait, performance and endurance”. Medium in height with silky coats, the Marchador horse does not trot, moving from an ambling gait into a canter. Because of its willing nature and smooth gait, the Marchador horse makes for a pleasant ride on long journeys. 

Satisfied with my learning experience, I pushed on towards São Lourenço.